Pick-up ion energization at the termination shock

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Geophysical Research Letters

OSTI ID:956557

Gary, S Peter ^[1]; Winske, Dan ^[1]; Wu, Pin ^[2]; Schwadron, N A ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. BOSTON UNIV.

One-dimensional hybrid simulations are used to investigate how pickup ions are energized at the perpendicular termination shock. Contrary to previous models based on pickup ion energy gain by repeated crossings of the shock front (shock surfing) or due to a reforming shock front, the present simulations show that pickup ion energy gain involves a gyro-phasedependent interaction with the inhomogeneous motional electric field at the shock. The process operates at all relative concentrations of pickup ion density.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 956557
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-09-01170; LA-UR-09-1170; GPRLAJ; TRN: US201014%%1926
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY
GAIN
HYBRIDIZATION
INTERACTIONS
ION DENSITY
IONS
SIMULATION