Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock

Details Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock

May 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004jgra..10905207a&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 109, Issue A5, CiteID A05207

Physics

Plasma Physics

34

Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, Space Plasma Physics: Shock Waves, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath, Magnetospheric Physics: Mhd Waves And Instabilities

Scientific paper

The Cluster satellites crossed the Earth's bow shock several times on 31 March 2001. For all these crossings the bow shock was supercritical and quasi-perpendicular. We present here the results of a detailed analysis of the magnetic field fluctuations observed downstream of the shock. We use data from the four Cluster spacecraft to determine the behavior and the geometry of these fluctuations with good accuracy. Shortly after the ramp crossing, we observed a large-amplitude nonlinear Alfvén wave, propagating along the downstream average magnetic field with a spectrum peaking at two frequencies below the proton and the alpha ion cyclotron frequencies. Farther downstream in the magnetosheath the magnetic field fluctuations took the form of three-dimensional structures which can be interpreted as cylindrical field-aligned current tubes. It is the first time that such current tubes have been observed downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock, and they are closely associated with a quasi-monochromatic, finite amplitude Alfvén wave. We suggest that a close relation exists between the nonlinear Alfvén wave and the current tubes as a result of a filamentation instability which is expected to occur at β >= 1 and for frequencies comparable to the ion cyclotron frequencies.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular 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 Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cluster observations of finite amplitude Alfvén waves and small-scale magnetic filaments downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1060260