An interpretation of electrostatic density shocks in space plasma

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1990087· OSTI ID:20764479

Jiankui, Shi; Tielong, Zhang; Torkar, Klaus; Zhenxing, Liu ^[1]

---

1. Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080 (China)

A physical model of electrostatic shocks observed in space plasma is established by deriving the 'Sagdeev potential' from the magnetohydrodynamic equations in a cylindrical coordinate system. The results show that the electrostatic density shock and its corresponding solitary electric-field structure can develop from an ion acoustic wave or an ion cyclotron wave if the Mach number and the initial electric field satisfy some conditions. Some features of the shock wave are discussed. The result can be used to interpret the electrostatic shock observed in geospace plasma.

• OSTI ID: 20764479
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 12, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1990087; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COORDINATES
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
IONS
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
POTENTIALS
SHOCK WAVES
SOLITONS