Chaotic motion of relativistic electrons driven by whistler waves

Canonical equations governing an electron motion in the electromagnetic field of the whistler mode waves propagating along the direction of an ambient magnetic field are derived. The physical processes on which the equations of motion are based are identified. It is shown that relativistic electrons interacting with these fields demonstrate chaotic motion, which is accompanied by particle stochastic heating and significant pitch angle diffusion. Evolution of distribution functions is described by the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equations. It is shown that the whistler mode waves could provide a viable mechanism for stochastic energization of electrons with energies of up to 50 MeV in the Jovian magnetosphere.