Direct evidence of solar wind deceleration in the foreshock of the Earth

Details Direct evidence of solar wind deceleration in the foreshock of the Earth Direct evidence of solar wind deceleration in the foreshock of the Earth

Feb 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009jgra..11402207c&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 114, Issue A2, CiteID A02207

Physics

Plasma Physics

4

Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, Interplanetary Physics: Planetary Bow Shocks, Space Plasma Physics: Wave/Particle Interactions (2483, 6984), Space Plasma Physics: Shock Waves (4455), Interplanetary Physics: Solar Wind Plasma

Scientific paper

Although the solar wind deceleration in the terrestrial foreshock was noticed three decades ago, previous studies show some conflicting results. This paper presents direct evidence of solar wind deceleration in the foreshock of the Earth by using the data of two Cluster satellites. On 2 February 2003, the two satellites (C1 and C3) of Cluster missions are inside and outside the foreshock, respectively, approximately along the solar wind flow line, which can effectively exclude the uncertainty caused by the spatial and temporal changes of solar wind itself. Comparison of the plasma data recorded by two satellites shows that the solar wind velocity decreases in the foreshock and the largest deceleration reaches 22 km/s. The velocity distribution of ions in the phase space indicates that the solar wind ions undergo pitch angle scattering in the foreshock. The solar wind deceleration is associated with diffuse ions and ULF wave activities. The diffuse ion density reached 0.25 cm-3, about 7% of the solar wind density. The interaction of ULF waves with solar wind also deflects the solar wind away from the bow shock in both the ecliptic and the meridian planes. Meanwhile, the solar wind deceleration is accompanied by thermalization during which the solar wind temperature can reach 240 eV.

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