Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock

Details Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock

Jan 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986jgr....91...91f&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 91, Jan. 1, 1986, p. 91-99. DOE-sponsored research.

Physics

38

Bow Waves, Energetic Particles, Ion Distribution, Particle Energy, Space Plasmas, Atmospheric Models, Gyration, Histograms, Ionospheric Ion Density, Magnetohydrodynamic Waves, Shock Waves

Scientific paper

Study of ISEE 2 fast plasma data reveals that many suprathermal ion events that in previous studies would have been identified as intermediate ion events are actually gyrating ion events. Of 190 apparently intermediate ion events selected on the basis of their signature in energy-time spectrograms, half are actually found to be gyrating ion events. Using a model bow shock, the shock geometries and spacecraft locations for the observed gyrating and intermediate ion events are compared and found to be quite similar. Both gyrating and intermediate ion events are found to be associated with upstream MHD-like wave activity. Most gyrating ion events are associated with large-amplitude, monochromatic, weakly compressive waves, whereas many intermediate ion events are associated with smaller-amplitude, nonmonochromatic, weakly compressive waves. Some intermediate ion events are found to have no associated waves. Detailed study of the gyrating ion distributions reveals that the distributions are typically gyrotropic within about 4 earth radii of the bow shock, whereas at larger distances (up to about 10 earth radii) upstream from the shock the distributions are frequently 'gyrophase bunched'. In light of these observational characteristics, it is concluded that gyrating ion distributions are most likely generated both through coherent wave disruption of field-aligned beams and through reflection of solar wind ions off the shock.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's 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 Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1846564