High-frequency electrostatic waves near Earth's bow shock

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA10p13397· OSTI ID:6049360

Onsager, T G; Holzworth, R H ^[1]; Koons, H C ^[2]; Bauer, O H ^[3]; Gurnett, D A; Anderson, R R ^[4]; Luehr, H ^[5]; Carlson, C W ^[6]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (USA)
2. Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
3. Max-Planck-Institut for Extra-Terrestrial Physics, Garching (West Germany)
4. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)
5. Technical Univ. of Braunschweig (West Germany)
6. Univ. of California, Berkeley (USA)

Electrostatic wave measurements from the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorer Ion Release Module have been used to investigate the wave modes and their possible generation mechanisms in the Earth's bow shock and magnetosheath. It is demonstrated that electrostatic waves are present in the bow shock and magnetosheath with frequencies above the maximum frequency for Doppler-shifted ion acoustic waves, yet below the plasma frequency. Waves in this frequency range are tentatively identified as electron beam mode waves. Data from 45 bow shock crossings are then used to investigate possible correlations between the electrostatic wave properties and the near-shock plasma parameters. The most significant relationships found are anticorrelations with Alfven Mach number and electron beta. Mechanisms which might produce electron beams in the shock and magnetosheath are discussed in terms of the correlation study results. These mechanisms include acceleration by the cross-shock electric field and by lower hybrid frequency waves. A magnetosheath time of flight mechanism, in analogy to the electron foreshock region, is introduced as another possible beam generation mechanism.

• OSTI ID: 6049360
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A10; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BEAMS
CORRELATIONS
DOPPLER EFFECT
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
LEPTON BEAMS
MAGNETOSHEATH
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
TURBULENCE