Ion reflection and dissipation at quasi-parallel collisionless shocks

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i002p00119· OSTI ID:6281817

Scholer, M ^[1]; Terasawa, Toshio ^[2]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching (West Germany)
2. Kyoto Univ. (Japan)

Large scale one-dimensional hybrid simulations have been performed of a quasi-parallel high Mach number collisionless shock. It is found that backstreaming reflected ions, i.e., upstream ions with velocities exceeding the shock ram velocity, originate from the outer part of the velocity space of the incident distribution. The backstreaming ions produce very low-frequency magnetosonic waves which propagate upstream with about 1.3V{sub A} (Alfven speed). As the wave crests convect toward the shock, they steepen up and the shock reforms itself. During shock reformation a large part of the incident ions are reflected. This, in turn, slows the incident ions down. The slowed down incident particle distribution and the reflected particle distribution merge and constitute the new thermalized downstream distribution. In the interval of a relatively stationary shock low-frequency whistler waves stand at the shock front. During these time intervals the whistler waves are probably responsible for dissipation by nonadiabatic compression of the incident ions. The whistler waves are destroyed by the incoming large amplitude wave crest and reemerge at the new shock front. The reappearance seems to be due to the nonlinear steepening of the incoming wave crest at the upstream side.

• OSTI ID: 6281817
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:2; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EARTH PLANET
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY LOSSES
HEATING
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INTERACTIONS
IONS
LOSSES
MAGNETOACOUSTIC WAVES
NOISE
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
REFLECTION
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION
WHISTLERS