Nonlocal plasma turbulence associated with interplanetary shocks

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA01p00017· OSTI ID:5289367

Kennel, C F; Scarf, F L; Coroniti, F V; Smith, E J; Gurnett, D A

The plasma wave instrument on ISEE 3 has detected regions of plasma turbulence that extend several tenths of an astronomical unit upstream or downstream of interplanetary shocks. The plasma waves fall into four categories. Highly impulsive 1- 10-kHz electric field bursts were found hours upstream of quasi-parallel interplanetary shocks. On occasion their average and peak amplitudes increased monotonically until the shock crossing, at which time they were suppressed. A lower frequency electric field (0.1--1 kHz) component was enhanced at nearly all shocks and persisted downstream. Broadband low-frequency (typically <178 Hz) magnetic fluctuations increased at, and persisted hours downstream of, every interplanetary shock in our sample. A smooth high-frequency continuum, near and above the local electron plasma frequency, was enhanced at, and persisted well downstream of, every interplanetary shock we studied. Impulsive electron plasma wave bursts were occasionally found near the shocks. The shock-associated plasma waves we found to extend over large spatial scales are similar to those found previously in local studies of interplanetary shocks. While no single interplanetary shock showed every effect, the ensemble of shocks contained at least one example of each type of plasma wave found upstream of the earth's bow shock. The 1- to 10-kHz spectra upstream of interplanetary shocks and the earth's bow shock are similar. The low-frequency electric and magnetic fluctuations downstream of interplanetary shocks and the bow shock have similar spectra. They seem to be ubieuitous features of flowing plasmas made turbulent by a shock.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Department, TRW Defense and Space Systems Group, Redondo Beach, California 90278
• OSTI ID: 5289367
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:A1; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA WAVES
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
TURBULENCE