Beams of protons and alpha particles > or approx. =30 keV/charge from the earth's bow shock

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA06p04374· OSTI ID:6250316

Scholer, M; Ipavich, F M; Gloeckler, G

We have investigated two beamlike particle events (30 keV/charge to 160 keV/charge) upstream of the earth's bow shock with the Max-Planck-Institut/ University of Maryland ultralow energy and charge analyzer on Isee 1. These beams consist of protons as well as of alpha particles, and the spectra are generally steep and are decreasing with increasing energy. During one event the spectra of both protons and alpha particles have a maximum at approx.65 keV/charge. During these events the interplanetary magnetic field through the satellite positron was almost tangent to the bow shock, and application of the theory of acceleration predicts acceleration of a solar wind particle up to 60 keV/nucleon in a single reflection. The observation of reflected protons as well as alpha particles has implications for the physical reflection process usually not discussed in the acceleration theories.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik D-8046 Garching, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 6250316
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A6; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALPHA PARTICLES
BACKSCATTERING
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
HADRONS
ION DENSITY
MAGNETOSPHERE
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
REFLECTION
SCATTERING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPECTRA