A forward-reverse shock pair in the solar wind driven by over-expansion of a coronal mass ejection: Ulysses observations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM (United States)
- San Juan Institute, San Juan Capistrano, CA (United States)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, (Canada)
- Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)
A previously unidentified type of solar wind forward-reverse shock pair has been observed by Ulysses at 4.64 AU and S32.5[degrees]. In contrast to most solar wind forward-reverse shock pairs, which are driven by the speed difference between fast solar wind plasma and slower plasma ahead, this particular shock pair was driven purely by the over-expansion of a coronal mass ejection, CME, in transit from the Sun. A simple numerical simulation indicates that the over-expansion was a result of a high initial internal plasma and magnetic field pressure within the CME. The CME observed at 4.64 AU had the internal field structure of a magnetic flux rope. This event was associated with a solar disturbance in which new magnetic loops formed in the corona almost directly beneath Ulysses [approximately]11 days earlier. This association suggests that the flux rope was created as a result of reconnection between the the legs' of neighboring magnetic loops within the rising CME.
- OSTI ID:
- 7296334
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 21:3; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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