Evidence for specularly reflected ions upstream from the quasi-parallel bow shock

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i012p01333· OSTI ID:6791899

Gosling, J T; Thomsen, M F; Bame, S J; Feldman, W C; Paschmann, G; Sckopke, N

Ion velocity distributions in the form of bunches of gyrating particles traveling along helical paths have been observed moving sunward immediately upstream from quasi-parallel parts of the earth's bow shock specular reflection at the shock of a portion of the incident solar wind ions. In particular, the guiding center motion and the gyrospeeds of the gyrating ions are quantitatively consistent with simple geometrical consideration for specular reflection. These considerations reveal that specularly reflected ions can escape upstream for THETA/sub Bn/<45/sup 0/ but not for THETA/sub Bn/>45/sup 0/ (where THETA/sub Bn/ is the angle between the upstream magnetic field, B and the local shock normal n). These upstream gyrating ions are an important signature of one of the processes by which solar wind streaming energy is dissipated into other forms of energy at the shock.

• Research Organization: University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
• OSTI ID: 6791899
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:12; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FUNCTIONS
IONS
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETOSPHERE
REFLECTION
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY