Effect of finite correlation time on the wave-particle interactions of nonlinear electrostatic structures with electrons in the Earth's radiation belts.

In situ measurements of electron scale fluctuations by the Van Allen Probes and MMS have demonstrated the ubiquitous occurrence of phase-space holes and various kinetic nonlinear structures in the Earth's magnetosphere. However it remains an open question whether phase-space holes have to be incorporated into global magnetospheric models describing the energisation and acceleration of electrons. In this communication we will review current wave-particle models of electron phase-space holes interacting with energetic electrons (e.g. >1 keV in the Earth's radiation belts)  and present new theoretical results showing that finite correlation times of phase-space holes results in enhanced pitch-angle scattering. The pitch-angle scattering by phase-space holes is shown to be on par with that produced by chorus waves, and in some instances outgrows the chorus contribution.