Two-dimensional structure of slow shocks
- Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
The two-dimensional (2-D) structure of switch-off slow magnetosonic shocks is investigated using an electromagnetic hybrid (fluid electrons, kinetic ions) code. It is shown that the basic physical processes occurring at 1-D slow shocks are also operative in 2-D. Specifically, the interaction between the upstream ions and those streaming away from the shock results in the excitation of Alfven/ions-cyclotron (AIC) waves. Depending on the plasma parameters, these waves may either stay in the upstream or convect back into the shock resulting in a non-steady shock behavior which prevents the formation of a trailing wave train. Despite this similarity, some slow shocks which are steady in 1-D are found to be non-steady in 2-D. Fourier analysis of the waves downstream of non-steady shocks identifies them as AIC, demonstrating that the waves remain on the same branch as they convect from upstream into the downstream region.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (United States). Goddard Space Flight Center
- OSTI ID:
- 57429
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 22, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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