Other
Scientific paper
May 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agusmsh23a..06g&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2009, abstract #SH23A-06
Other
2109 Discontinuities (7811), 2114 Energetic Particles (7514), 2134 Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, 2139 Interplanetary Shocks
Scientific paper
We address the physics of the interaction of magnetic discontinuities (primarily current sheets) with collisionless shocks. Past studies have shown that at the intersection point of a current sheet of a particular magnetic polarity reversal and a shock, a region of hot plasma is formed, known as a hot-flow anomaly (or also a hot diamagnetic cavity). We expand on the earlier studies of the physics of hot-flow anomalies by examining a wider range of current-sheet / shock orientations. Among other things, we find that when the current sheet is oblique to the shock-normal direction, a large fraction of low-energy ions are accelerated to very high energies (up to 100 times the ram energy of the plasma in some cases). This may help explain some recent spacecraft observations both in the solar wind near 1 AU, and also in the outer heliosphere by the Voyagers. In addition, because there are large number of discontinuities in the solar wind, it may be that the acceleration of ions at the intersection point of these structures and propagating interplanetary shocks may be an efficient means of accelerating particles and producing suprathermal ions in the heliosphere. We will discuss the basic physics of this process and present recent relevant observations.
Burgess David
Giacalone Joe
Neugebauer Matthias
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