Ion acceleration at the earth's bow shock - A review of observations in the upstream regionPositive ions are accelerated at or near the earth's bow shock and propagate into the upstream region. Two distinctly different populations of these ions, distinguished by their greatly different spectral and angular widths, can be identified there. The type of ion population observed in the upstream region is strongly correlated with the presence or absence of long-period compressive waves in the solar wind. Very few ions are accelerated in the vicinity of the shock to energies much above about 100 keV. It is not yet clear whether the most energetic ions (i.e., those near 100 keV) are accelerated at the shock or in the broad disturbed region upstream from the shock. In either case stochastic acceleration by turbulent electrostatic fields seems to be the most viable candidate for the acceleration of the most energetic particles.
Document ID
19800069037
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Gosling, J. T. (Los Alamos Scientific Lab. NM, United States)
Asbridge, J. R. (Los Alamos Scientific Lab. NM, United States)
Bame, S. J. (Los Alamos Scientific Lab. NM, United States)
Feldman, W. C. (California, University Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Los Alamos, N. Mex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1979
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Particle acceleration mechanisms in astrophysics