Ion scales of quasi-perpendicular low-Mach-number interplanetary shocks

A formation of low‐Mach‐number quasi‐perpendicular shocks is expected to be well understood. From theoretical considerations as well as from observations, it follows that the shock ramp thickness would scale with the ion inertial length. We present analysis of 12 subcritical or marginally critical i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2013-08, Vol.40 (16), p.4133-4137
Main Authors: Němeček, Z., Šafránková, J., Goncharov, O., Přech, L., Zastenker, G. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Density
Geophysics
Heating
Inertial
interplanetary shock
ion scale
Ions
Kinetics
Magnetic fields
Ramps
Solar wind
Stresses
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Summary:A formation of low‐Mach‐number quasi‐perpendicular shocks is expected to be well understood. From theoretical considerations as well as from observations, it follows that the shock ramp thickness would scale with the ion inertial length. We present analysis of 12 subcritical or marginally critical interplanetary shocks that reveals that (1) the ion transition scale determined from direct measurements of plasma moments (speed, temperature, and density) are of the same order as the ramp thickness determined from the magnetic field and (2) the ion transition scale is directly proportional to the ion thermal gyroradius, Rth; it was found to be ≈3.2 Rth in a broad range of solar wind and shock parameters. These results stress a role of the ion kinetics in the shock formation. Key Points Fast measurements of ion moments First direct detail measurements of the ion heating across IP shocks Ion scales of IP shocks proportional to proton thermal gyroradius
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1002/grl.50814