ISEE-1 and -2 observations of laminar bow shocks: velocity and thickness

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i010p01171· OSTI ID:6575527

Russell, C T; Hoppe, M M; Livesey, W A; Gosling, J T; Bame, S J

Thirteen bow shock crossings observed by ISEE-1 and -2 have been used to determine the thickness and velocity of the quasi-perpendicular laminar bow shock, i.e., those for which the Mach number and beta are low and the magnetic field is at large angles to the shock normal. The shock velocity ranges from a few kilometers per second to over 100 km/sec for these events. The shock thickness is found to be close to an ion inertial length, about 100 km for the conditions studied herein. In contrast to supercritical shocks, there is approximate equipartition of thermal energy between ions and electrons behind these shocks. Finally, there is a weak correlation between shock thickness and the angle between the interplanetary magnetic field and the shock normal, with more perpendicular shocks being thinner.

• Research Organization: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• OSTI ID: 6575527
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:10; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
ION TEMPERATURE
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY