Correlation of bow shock plasma wave turbulence with solar wind parameters

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i016p02871· OSTI ID:7268604

Rodriguez, P; Gurnett, D A

The rms field strengths of eletrostatic and electromagnetic turbulence in the earth's bow shock, measured in the frequency range 20 Hz to 200 kHz with the Imp 6 satellite, are found to correlate with specific solar wind parameters measured upstream of the bow shock. The largest rms field strengths of electrostatic turbulence (200 Hz to 4 kHz) upstream electron to proton temperature ratio T/sub e//T/sub p/ is large and when the proton temperature T/sub p/ is small, an indication that the mechanism for generating electrostatic turbulence in the bow shock is more efficient when lower upstream proton temperatures occur. No substantial correlation is found between the rms field strengths of electrostatic turbulence and three upstream parameters commonly used to classify the magnetohydrodynamic structure of the turbulent bow shock: the Alfven Mach number M/sub A/, the ratio of particle pressure to magnetic field pressure ..beta.., and the shock normal angle psi (B,n). The strong correlation with T/sub e//T/sub p/ and T/sub p/ and the lack of strong correlation with M/sub A/, ..beta.., and psi (B,n) indicate that the strength of electrostatic turbulence in the bow shock is determined by the kinetic properties of the solar wind plasma rather than by its fluid properties. The characteristic development of the electric field spectrum through the shock transition indicates that strong coupling exists between the electron and proton heating processes. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
• OSTI ID: 7268604
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 81:16
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MAGNETOSPHERE
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR WIND
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
IMP SATELLITES
PLASMA HEATING
PROTON TEMPERATURE
TURBULENCE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HEATING
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
640203* - Atmospheric Physics- Magnetospheric Phenomena- (-1987)
640104 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Solar Phenomena