The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs

Details The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs

Nov 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aipc.1183...31l&link_type=abstract

SHOCK WAVES IN SPACE AND ASTROPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS: 18th Annual International Astrophysics Conference. AIP Conference Proceedin

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Shock Waves, Solar Wind, Solar Corona, Streaming, Acoustic, Solar Magnetism, Planetary Bow Shocks, Interplanetary Shocks, Particle Emission, Solar Wind, Coronal Mass Ejection, Corotating Streams, Electric And Magnetic Fields, Solar Magnetism

Scientific paper

Using analytical theory and data from the Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) investigation aboard NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), we investigate the thermalization of protons and oxygen ions passing through a shock associated with a corotating interaction region (CIR). The theoretical prediction for the thermalization of protons is based on a simple model of charged particles crossing through an electrostatic shock potential. The oxygen ions just downstream have a different speed relative to the bulk downstream plasma, and the oxygen ions gyrate downstream of the shock. Their thermal speed is the initial gyrospeed immediately after passing through the shock potential; later on part of the initial energy is lost to waves as a result of an Alfvén Ion-Cyclotron instability. We choose time periods when STEREO AHEAD (STEREO-A) crossed two low-Mach-number shocks. These shocks are chosen such that thermalization contributed by reflected protons and the waves generated by the reflected protons are likely negligible. The predicted proton and oxygen thermal speeds match the observations very well.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs 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 The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Thermalization of Oxygen Ions and Protons at Shocks Associated with CIRs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1535539