Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model

Details Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufmsh31a1169b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #SH31A-1169

Physics

2139 Interplanetary Shocks

Scientific paper

Reflection of ions by the cross-shock electrostatic potential is the primary dissipation mechanism at a quasi-perpendicular shock in the solar wind. Recently, the role of pickup ions and their greater facility for reflection by the cross-shock potential has raised important questions for injection and acceleration of pickup ions at, for example, the heliospheric termination shock. However, before these questions can be fully addressed, a better understanding of ion reflection and shock structure at a quasi-perpendicular shock is needed. We revisit the question of ion reflection and shock structure based on a fluid model and appropriate source terms that take into account the energization of the reflected ions by the motional electric field immediately upstream of the shock. By assuming that the source terms remain small, we develop a perturbation expansion solution of the model equations and derive a modified form of the classical Burgers equation. However, the dissipation term in our Burgers' equation is determined by the efficiency of the ion reflection process at the shock front, demonstrating explicitly that ion reflection should be viewed as a dissipative process and one that determines the scale length of the quasi-perpendicular shock.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model 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 Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Perpendicular shock structure: a small amplitude model will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1461629