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Very high Mach number shocks - TheoryThe theory and simulation of collisionless perpendicular supercritical shock structure is reviewed, with major emphasis on recent research results. The primary tool of investigation is the hybrid simulation method, in which the Newtonian orbits of a large number of ion macroparticles are followed numerically, and in which the electrons are treated as a charge neutralizing fluid. The principal results include the following: (1) electron resistivity is not required to explain the observed quasi-stationarity of the earth's bow shock, (2) the structure of the perpendicular shock at very high Mach numbers depends sensitively on the upstream value of beta (the ratio of the thermal to magnetic pressure) and electron resistivity, (3) two-dimensional turbulence will become increasingly important as the Mach number is increased, and (4) nonadiabatic bulk electron heating will result when a thermal electron cannot complete a gyrorbit while transiting the shock.
Document ID
19870035831
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Quest, Kevin B.
(Los Alamos National Laboratory NM, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Space Research
Volume: 6
Issue: 1, 19
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
87A23105
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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