Engineering topics

Mandt, M. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Mandt, M. E..

11 records

NASA NTRS1994

Transition to whistler mediated magnetic reconnection

The transition in the magnetic reconnection rate from the resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) regime where the Alfen wave controls reconnection to a regime in which the ions become unmagnetized and the whistler wave mediates reconnection is explored with 2-D hybrid simulations. In the whistler regime the electrons carry the currents while the ions provide a neutralizing background. A simple physical picture is presented illustrating the role of the whistler mediated reconnection is calculated analytically. The development of an out-of-plane component of the magnetic field is an observable signature of whistler driven reconnection.

Mandt, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Magnetospheric response to solar wind dynamic pressure variations: Interaction of interplanetary tangential discontinuities with the bow shock

Some magnetic impulse events observed in the polar region are related to vortices associated with plasma convection in the ionosphere. Recent analyses of satellite and ground data suggest that the interaction of solar wind dynamic pressure pulses and the magnetosphere may lead to the formation of velocity vortices in the magnetopause boundary layer region. This can in turn lead to the presence of vortices in the polar ionosphere. However, before reaching the Earth's magnetopause, these interplanetary pressure pulses must interact with and pass through the bow shock. A variation of the solar wind dynamic pressure may be associated with shocks, magnetic holes, or tangential discontinuities (TDs) in the interplanetary medium. We study the interaction of interplanetary TDs with the Earth's bow shock (BS) using both theoretical analysis and MHD computer simulations. It is found that as a result of the collision between a TD and the BS, the jump in the solar wind dynamic pressure associated with the TD is significantly modified, the bow shock moves, and a new fast shock or fast rarefaction wave, which propagates in the downstream direction, is excited. Our theoretical analysis shows that the change in the plasma density across the interplanetary TD plays the most important role in the collision process. In the case with an enhanced dynamic pressure behind the interplanetary TD, the bow shock is intensified in strength and moves in the earthward direction. The dynamic pressure jump associated with the transmitted TD is generally reduced from the value before the interaction. A fast compressional shock is excited ahead of the transmitted TD and propagates toward the Earth's magnetosphere. For the case in which the dynamic pressure is reduced behind the interplanetary TD, the pressure jump across the transmitted TD is substantially weakened, the bow shock moves in the sunward direction, and a rarefaction wave which propagates downstream is excited. We also simulate and discuss the interaction of a pair of tangential discontinuities, which may correspond to a magnetic hole, with the BS.

Wu, Bor-Han↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ion heating by kinetic cross-field streaming instability due to reflected ions at a quasiperpendicular shock

The present paper shows that the reflected ion at a supercritical quasi-perpendicular shock wave can excite a purely growing mode propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field. To discuss the ion heating by such an unstable mode, the self-consistent quasi-linear kinetic equation is solved with the assumption that the present purely growing mode is the dominant unstable mode in the system. In the quasi-linear analysis of the instability, two particular cases are considered: the case of low initial ion beta and that of a high initial ion beta.

Yoon, Peter H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Electrostatic potential jump across fast-mode collisionless shocks

The electrostatic potential jump across fast-mode collisionless shocks is examined by comparing published observations, hybrid simulations, and a simple model, in order to better characterize its dependence on the various shock parameters. In all three, it is assumed that the electrons can be described by an isotropic power-law equation of state. The observations show that the cross-shock potential jump correlates well with the shock strength but shows very little correlation with other shock parameters. Assuming that the electrons obey an isotropic power law equation of state, the correlation of the potential jump with the shock strength follows naturally from the increased shock compression and an apparent dependence of the power law exponent on the Mach number which the observations indicate. It is found that including a Mach number dependence for the power law exponent in the electron equation of state in the simple model produces a potential jump which better fits the observations. On the basis of the simulation results and theoretical estimates of the cross-shock potential, it is discussed how the cross-shock potential might be expected to depend on the other shock parameters.

Mandt, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Generation of Pc 1 waves by the ion temperature anisotropy associated with fast shocks caused by sudden impulses

The high correlation of Pc 1 events with magnetospheric compressions is known. A mechanism is proposed which leads to the generation of Pc 1 waves. The interaction of a dynamic pressure pulse with the earth's bow shock leads to the formation of a weak fast-mode shock propagating into the magnetoshealth. The shock wave can pass right through a tangential discontinuity (magnetopause) and into the magnetosphere, without disturbing either of the structures. In a quasiperpendicular geometry, the shock wave exhibits anisotropic heating. This anisotropy drives unstable ion-cyclotron waves which can contribute to the generation of the Pc 1 waves which are detected. The viability of the mechanism is demonstrated with simulations. This mechanism could explain the peak in the occurrence of observed Pc 1 waves in the postnoon sector where a field-aligned discontinuity in the solar wind would most often be parallel to the magnetopause surface due to the average Parker-spiral magnetic-field configuration.

Mandt, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Dispersive and viscous scale lengths in the two-stage ion heating at quasi-parallel collisionless shocks

A simulation of quasi-parallel (QP) collisionless shock waves is used to deduce the dispersive and viscous scale lengths of QP shocks. The findings were found to be consistent with the observational results obtained by Scudder et al. (1984) and Kennel et al. (1984). It is shown that the upstream wavelength is the dispersive scale length which governs the magnetic-field structure of the shock. It is also shown that the two-stage ion heating obtained by Mandt and Kan (1988) is an intrinsic characteristic of the ion heating process in QP shocks.

Mandt, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evolution of an unstable shell distribution of pickup cometary ions

Consideration is given to the shell distribution formed by pickup ions in the solar wind. Numerical simulations are used to study the linear and nonlinear development of the waves and the evolution of the initial shell distribution. The linear theory is generalized to include additional effects. It is shown that unstable hydromagnetic fluctuations give rise to diffusion in velocity space and thickening of the shell distribution.

Yoon, Peter H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Fast Fermi acceleration in the plasma sheet boundary layer

A longstanding question in the field of magnetospheric physics is the source of the energetic particles which are commonly observed along the plasma-sheet boundary layer (PSBL). Several models have been suggested for the acceleration of these particles. Here, a means is suggested by which the fast Fermi acceleration mechanism (Wu, 1984) can accelerate electrons at the plasma sheet and perhaps account for some of the observations. In this scheme, a localized hydromagnetic disturbance propagating through the tail lobe region impinges upon the PSBL, deforming it and displacing it in toward the central plasma sheet. The boundary layer can then act like a moving magnetic mirror. If the disturbance is propagating nearly perpendicular to the layer, then its velocity projected parallel to the layer (and the magnetic field) can be very large, resulting in significant acceleration of reflected particles.

Wu, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Ion equation of state in quasi-parallel shocks - A simulation result

Ion equation of state in the quasi-parallel collisionless shock is deduced from simulation results. The simulations were performed for theta(bn) = 10 deg, beta = 0.5 and M sub A in the range from 1.2 to 8, where M sub A is the Alfven Mach number, beta is the upstream ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure, and theta(bn) is the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field. The equation of state can be approximated by a power law with different exponents in the upstream and downstream sides of the shock transition region. The exponent in the upstream side of the transition region is much greater than the adiabatic value of 5/3 and increases with M sub A. The exponent in the downstream side of the transition region is slightly less than 5/3. The results show that ion heating in the quasi-parallel shock is highly nonadiabatic with a large increase in entropy and in temperature ratio in the upstream side of the transition region, while the heating is highly isentropic with a large increase in temperature difference across the principal density jump in the downstream side of the transition region.

Mandt, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A study of mirror waves generated downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock

A large ion temperature anisotropy, which may lead to the generation of mirror waves, is found to exist downstream of a quasi-perpendicular shock simulated by a one-dimensional hybrid code. In the case of the earth's bow shock, large-amplitude mirror waves are found to develop approximately 0.5-1 earth radii downstream of the shock ramp. It is found that the instability criterion for mirror waves in the downstream region is satisfied for shocks with a large Alfven Mach number.

Lee, L. C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Increase of ion kinetic temperature across a collisionless shock. II - A simulation study

The present paper is a continuation of the preceding article by Lee et al., (1986) in which it is suggested that the nonadiabatic motion of the directly transmitted ions in a quasi-perpendicular shock wave can result in an increase of the ion kinetic temperature transverse to the ambient magnetic field in the downstream. A series of computer simulations based on a hybrid code have been carried out to examine the dynamics of the transmitted ions in both the subcritical and supercritical shock waves. It is found that, in both cases, the directly transmitted ions can contribute to the heating process. In the case of a resistiveless supercritical shock, the reflected and transmitted ions can be equally important; whereas for a subcritical shock, the transmitted ions are primarily responsible for the ion heating.

Lee, L. C.↗