Backstreaming ions outside the earth's bow shock and their interaction with the solar wind

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA085iA07p03461· OSTI ID:5096715

Bonifazi, C; Egidi, A; Moreno, G; Orsini, S

Analysis of plasma data supplied by the European satellite ISEE 2 has confirmed the existence in the solar wind of two different ion populations (referred to as 'reflected' and 'diffuse') backstreaming from the earth's bow shock. The two populations have similar bulk velocities and flux densities but quite different temperatures. In addition, the diffuse ions strongly interact with the solar wind, producing fluctuations in the distribution of the proton velocities, while the reflected ions do not disturb significantly the incoming solar wind. The origin of the two ion populations is then discussed. Although no firm conclusion is reached, the experimental evidence seems to favor a model which explains the appearance of the diffuse population as the result of an interaction of the reflected ions with the solar wind.

• Research Organization: Laboratorio per il Plasma Nello spazio, consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Frascati, Italy
• OSTI ID: 5096715
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 85:A7; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BACKSCATTERING
CHARGED PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
PLASMA DENSITY
SCATTERING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
SPECTRA