No abstract

A numerical simulation code is developed to evaluate the loss rate of particles trapped in a mirror magnetic field geometry with asymmetric loss cones. The one‐dimensional model can accommodate particle diffusion at any prescribed rate and loss cones of any prescribed sizes, and it incorporates the important effect of atmospheric backscattering. Numerical solutions for the loss cone particle distribution function calculated for the case of equal loss cones provide an acceptable simulation of the well‐known modified Bessel function solution. The code provides the first quantitative solutions for any specified rate of pitch angle scattering for the general case of arbitrary asymmetry in loss cone size. In the case of weak or moderate diffusion the ratio of particle precipitation fluxes into the two loss cones can provide a sensitive measurement of the rate of particle scattering, but to utilize this important diagnostic property, one must also have information on the fraction of particles that are backscattered from the atmosphere.