Very high Mach number shocks: theory

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(86)90006-2· OSTI ID:5195459

Quest, K B

The theory and simulation of collisionless perpendicular supercritical shock structure is reviewed, with major emphasis on recent research results. The primary tool of investigation is the hybrid simulation method, in which the Newtonian orbits of a large number of ion macroparticles are followed numerically, and in which the electrons are treated as a charge neutralizing fluid. The principal results to be presented are (1) electron resistivity is not required to explain the observed quasi-stationarity of the earth's bow shock, (2) the structure of the perpendicular shock at very high Mach numbers (M/sub A/ approx. = 15 - 20 and ..beta.. approx. = 1, where M/sub A/ is the Alfven Mach number of the shock and ..beta.. is the ratio of the thermal to magnetic pressure) depends sensitively on the upstream ..beta.. and electron resistivity, (3) two-dimensional turbulence will become increasingly important as the Mach number is increased, and (4) non-adiabatic bulk electron heating will result when a thermal electron cannot complete a gyro-orbit while transiting the shock. 32 refs., 13 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5195459
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-86-3172; CONF-8606145-4; ON: DE87000146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
LEPTONS
MACH NUMBER
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
VELOCITY