Radial Diffusion Coefficient for Electrons at Low <i>L</i> Values

An empirical evaluation of the diffusion coefficient for trapped electrons diffusing across low L shells is obtained by adjusting the coefficient to account for the observed radial profile and the long-term decay rate of the trapped electron flux. The diffusion mechanism is not identified, but it is assumed that the adiabatic invariants \textmu and J are conserved. The average value of the coefficient for electrons > 1.6 Mev energy is found to decrease monotonically from \~4 \texttimes 10-6 RE\texttwosuperior/day at L = 1.16 to \~2 \texttimes 10-7 RE\texttwosuperior/day at L = 1.20.