Effect of heavy ions on the formation and structure of cometary bow shocks

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(86)90016-3· OSTI ID:5198189

Omidi, N; Wu, C S; Winske, D

A hybrid simulation model is used to investigate the effects of heavy cometary ions on the formation and structure of a cometary bow shock. The calculations are carried out over various Mach numbers and heavy ion velocity distribution functions. The model is based on previous formulations for phenomena in the solar wind and at the earth's bow shock. The generation of the shock is described in terms of particles injected from one side of the simulation field and reflected from the other end of the field, i.e., a solid wall boundary model. This technique permits the steep buildup of the ion density near the cometary nucleus, followed by coupling of the incident and reflected ion streams to produce a shock. It is shown that at low Mach numbers (up to Mach 2) the shock is transitory and periodically formed by protons, then destroyed by heavy ions (O+). Slightly higher Mach numbers lead to a true stationary shock. An examination of coupling effects between the solar wind and the heavy ions at low Mach numbers by using the Rankine-Hugoniot relations reveals that the ions and the solar wind protons cannot be treated as a single fluid calculating the shock characteristics. 46 references.

• Research Organization: Maryland Univ., College Park; Los Alamos National Lab., NM
• OSTI ID: 5198189
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 66; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMETS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
HEAVY IONS
IONS
MACH NUMBER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY