Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock

Details Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock

Feb 2012

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012phrvl.108f1102p&link_type=abstract

Physical Review Letters, vol. 108, Issue 6, id. 061102

Other

Planetary Bow Shocks, Interplanetary Shocks, Nonlinear Phenomena: Waves, Wave Propagation, And Other Interactions, Shock Waves And Discontinuities, Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

Earth’s bow shock is a collisionless shock wave but entropy has never been directly measured across it. The plasma experiments on Cluster and Double Star measure 3D plasma distributions upstream and downstream of the bow shock allowing calculation of Boltzmann’s entropy function H and his famous H theorem, dH/dt≤0. The collisionless Boltzmann (Vlasov) equation predicts that the total entropy does not change if the distribution function across the shock becomes nonthermal, but it allows changes in the entropy density. Here, we present the first direct measurements of entropy density changes across Earth’s bow shock and show that the results generally support the model of the Vlasov analysis. These observations are a starting point for a more sophisticated analysis that includes 3D computer modeling of collisionless shocks with input from observed particles, waves, and turbulences.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Entropy Generation across Earth's Collisionless Bow Shock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1380687