Simulation study of magnetic holes at the Earth's collisionless bow shock

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Eliasson, B and Shukla, P K (2007) Simulation study of magnetic holes at the Earth's collisionless bow shock. New Journal of Physics, 9 (6). 168. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/9/6/168)

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Abstract

Recent observations by the Cluster and Double Star spacecraft at the Earth's bow shock have revealed localized magnetic field and density holes in the solar wind plasma. These structures are characterized by a local depletion of the magnetic field and the plasma density, and by a strong increase of the plasma temperature inside the magnetic and density cavities. Our objective here is to report results of a hybrid-Vlasov simulations of ion-Larmor-radius sized plasma density cavities with parameters that are representative of the high-beta solar wind plasma at the Earth's bow shock. We observe the asymmetric self-steepening and shock-formation of the cavity, and a strong localized temperature increase (by a factor of 5–7) of the plasma due to reflections and shock surfing of the ions against the collisionless shock. Temperature maxima are correlated with density minima, in agreement with Cluster observations. For oblique incidence of the solar wind, we observe efficient acceleration of ions along the magnetic field lines by the shock drift acceleration process.

ORCID iDs

Eliasson, B ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6039-1574 and Shukla, P K;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:53040
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    21 June 2007
    Published
    Subjects:Science > Astronomy
    Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:15 May 2015 15:19
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 11:05
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/53040
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