Electron velocity distributions near interplantary shocks

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA12p09949· OSTI ID:7001548

Feldman, W C; Anderson, R C; Bame, S J; Gosling, J T; Zwickl, R D; Smith, E J

Solar wind electron velocity distributions measured across interplanetary shocks using the Los Alamos plasma analyzer on ISEE 3 have been studied to understand electron heating mechanisms for weak and intermediate strength collisionless shocks. This study thus complements earlier studies of electron heating at the earth's bow shock, an example of a highly supercritical collisionless shock. At the weakest interplanetary shocks (downstream to upstream density ratio N(d/u) approx.< 2 and velocity difference V(d-u) approx.< 70 km/s), heating perpendicular to the magnetic field B predominates over parallel heating. Such heating may be a consequence of conservation of magnetic moment across the shock. At the stronger interplanetary shocks (N(d/u) approx.> 2 and V(d-u) approx.> 70 km/s), heating parallel to B is dominant and the downstream velocity distributions are flat-topped, similar to what is observed downstream of the earth's bow shock. This similarity suggests that electron heating in all collisionless shocks with N(d/u) approx.> 2 and V(d-u) approx.> 70 km/s results in part from an acceleration parallel to B produced by the macroscopic shock electric field, followed by beam driven plasma instabilities. 14 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM
• OSTI ID: 7001548
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A12; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROSTATICS
HEATING
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA HEATING
SHOCK HEATING
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VELOCITY