The MHD intermediate shock interaction with an intermediate wave: Are intermediate shocks physical

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA02p00987· OSTI ID:6050474

Wu, C C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

Contrary to the usual belief that MHD intermediate shocks are extraneous, the authors have recently shown by numerical solutions of dissipative MHD equations that intermediate shocks are admissible and can be formed through nonlinear steepening from a continuous wave. In this paper, he clarifies the differences between the conventional view and the results by studying the interaction of an MHD intermediate shock with an intermediate wave. The study reaffirms his results. In addition, the study shows that there exists a larger class of shocklike solutions in the time-dependent dissiaptive MHD equations than are given by the MHD Rankine-Hugoniot relations. it also suggests a mechanism for forming rotational discontinuities through the interaction of an intermediate shock with an intermediate wave. The results are of importance not only to the MHD shock theory but also to studies such as magnetic field reconnection models.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-86ER53225
• OSTI ID: 6050474
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 93:A2; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EQUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RANKINE-HUGONIOT EQUATIONS
SHOCK WAVES
TIME DEPENDENCE