High Mach Number Quasi-Perpendicular Shocks: Spatial Versus Temporal Structure

N. Omidi; M. Desai; C. T. Russell; G. G. Howes

doi:10.1029/2021JA029287

Back

High Mach Number Quasi-Perpendicular Shocks: Spatial Versus Temporal Structure

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

High Mach Number Quasi-Perpendicular Shocks: Spatial Versus Temporal Structure

N. Omidi, M. Desai, C. T. Russell and G. G. Howes

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.126(9), e2021JA029287

09/01/2021

DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029287

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029287View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Planetary bow shocks are a natural laboratory for investigating the physics of collisionless shocks. Given that spacecraft observations provide us with information regarding the temporal structure of the shock, often multi-spacecraft missions and kinetic simulations are needed to discern the nature of the dissipation processes at the shock and the resulting spatial structure. Such an approach through the ISEE mission and 1.5-D hybrid (kinetic ions and fluid electrons) simulations led to an understanding of supercritical quasi-perpendicular shocks. In such shocks, the reflection of a fraction of incident ions and their gyration back into the shock is part of the dissipation process resulting in the formation of a foot, ramp, overshoot, and undershoot. More recently, observations of high Mach number quasi-perpendicular shocks show a seemingly turbulent structure in time series data. In this study, we use the results of 2.5-D global hybrid simulation of a high Mach number quasi-perpendicular shock to demonstrate the major differences between the spatial and temporal structure of such shocks. The spatial structure of the shock is the same as that of supercritical shocks while the temporal structure consists of fast magnetosonic pulses. The reason for this difference is attributed to the generation of surface waves at the shock which results in partial encounters between the shock and spacecraft. The surface waves are shown to be generated by large velocity shears present at the shock due to ion reflection and gyration into the upstream.

Physical Sciences

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: High Mach Number Quasi-Perpendicular Shocks: Spatial Versus Temporal Structure
Creators: N. Omidi - NOVA Scientific (United States)
M. Desai - Southwest Research Institute
C. T. Russell - University of California, Los Angeles
G. G. Howes - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.126(9), e2021JA029287
DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029287
ISSN: 2169-9380
eISSN: 2169-9402
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 13
Grant note: 80NSCC18K1366 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2021
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428807202771

Metrics

11 Record Views

8 Times Cited - Web of Science