Observations and Simulations of Slow Mode Shocks

Details Observations and Simulations of Slow Mode Shocks Observations and Simulations of Slow Mode Shocks

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmsm53a1454k&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #SM53A-1454

Physics

2723 Magnetic Reconnection (7526, 7835), 2744 Magnetotail, 2753 Numerical Modeling

Scientific paper

Magnetic reconnection is regarded as the major process of the dynamical change of the magnetosphere, and the slow shocks which are associated with reconnection in the magnetotail are thought to be the main engine of the plasma heating and acceleration. Most recent measurements, from CLUSTER spacecraft show clear evidence for slow-mode shocks associated with magnetic reconnection in the near Earth magnetotail in connection with a substorm onset [Eriksson et al., 2004]. Most of the knowledge of slow mode shocks was derived from two-fluid theory together with extensive small-scale hybrid simulations of the shock transition. However, recent simulation results with kinetic electrons [Brachbill and Wu, 1993], have called into question the validity of the electron fluid approximation. For the slow shock this fully implicit kinetic approach predicts a more equal sharing (between ions and electrons) of the shock induced heating. This results in a significantly lower downstream ion temperature than predicted by hybrid simulations and greater electron energy transport from downstream to upstream. This is attributed to electron kinetic processes but does not offer any specific mechanism. It remains unclear how this electron kinetics process might scale to physical relevant mi/me. In order to investigate the relevant scales of the kinetic processes in these shocks we established a database of slow shocks from CLUSTER observations and performed a number of 1D full particle using electron/protons mass ratios close to the realistic value and hybrid simulations using plasma parameters from CLUSTER spacecraft as input. Results from this study will be presented. Eriksson, S. et al. JGR. 109, A10212, doi:10.1029/2004JA010534, 2004 Brachbill, J. and H. Wu, Geophys. Res. Lett., 20,2015,1993

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