Electrostatic waves in the bow shock at Uranus

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA10p13367· OSTI ID:6051100

Moses, S L; Coroniti, F V; Kennel, C F; Scarf, F L ^[1]; Bagenal, F ^[2]; Lepping, R P ^[3]; Quest, K B ^[4]; Kurth, W S ^[5]

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1. TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA (USA)
2. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)
3. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)
4. Univ. of California, San Diego, La Jolla (USA)
5. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)

Electrostatic emissions measured by the Voyager 2 plasma wave detector (PWS) during the inbound crossing of the Uranian bow shock are shown to differ in some aspects from the waves measured during bow shock crossings at Jupiter and Saturn. The wave amplitudes in the foot of the bow shock at Uranus are in general much lower than those detected at the other out planets due to the unusually enhanced solar wind ion temperature during the crossing. This reduces the effectiveness of wave-particle interactions in heating the incoming electrons. Strong wave emissions are observed in the shock ramp that possibly arise from currents producing a Buneman mode instability. Plasma instrument (PLS) and magnetometer (MAG) measurements reveal a complicated shock structure reminiscent of computer simulations of high-Mach number shocks when the effects of anomalous resistivity are reduced, and are consistent with high ion temperatures restricting the growth of electrostatic waves.

• OSTI ID: 6051100
• 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

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
HEATING
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
ION TEMPERATURE
JUPITER PLANET
PLANETS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE VEHICLES
URANUS PLANET
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES