Electron heating mechanisms at quasi-perpendicular shocks - revisited with magnetospheric multiscale measurements

Stasiewicz, Krzysztof and Eliasson, Bengt (2023) Electron heating mechanisms at quasi-perpendicular shocks - revisited with magnetospheric multiscale measurements. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 520 (3). pp. 3238-3244. ISSN 0035-8711 (https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad361)

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Abstract

We demonstrate that measurements obtained from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission support quasi-adiabatic electron heating in quasi-perpendicular shocks with temperature ⊥ ∝ ^(1+), where is the magnetic field strength and represents departure from adiabaticity. Adiabatic heating ( = 0) results from the conservation of magnetic moment on spatially increasing magnetic field inside the shock ramp. Negative < 0 is observed in most situations, where perpendicular energy gain from adiabatic heating is redistributed by interactions with waves to the parallel direction leading to a lower isotropic temperature increase. Positive is observed when the stochastic heating of electrons is activated by the × wave acceleration mechanism by electrostatic waves leading to a higher temperature increase. By using test-particle simulations in a realistic shock model we have elucidated the process of stochastic wave acceleration. We have also shown the equivalence of adiabatic heating and acceleration by gradient drift at shocks with low Mach numbers and demonstrated that the cross-shock potential does not contribute to the electron heating. Signatures of quasi-adiabatic heating, and/or stochastic heating of electrons are observed in all shocks analysed with measurements by the MMS.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:83978
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    30 April 2023
    Published
    2 February 2023
    Published Online
    27 January 2023
    Accepted
    29 December 2022
    Submitted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:02 Feb 2023 10:18
    Last modified:09 Apr 2024 03:50
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/83978
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