Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “collisionless shocks”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Collisionless dissipation processes in quasi-parallel shocks

The evolution of collisionless, quasi-parallel shocks (the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field being less than 45 deg) is examined using two dimensional particle simulations. Reflected ions upstream from the shock are observed with average guiding center velocity and gyrational energy which agree well with the prediction of simple specular reflection. Strong ion heating through the shock ramp is apparently caused by large amplitude whistler turbulence. A flux of suprathermal electrons is also the magnetic field direction. Much stronger ion heating occurs in the shock than electron heating. The relevance of this work to the earth's bow shock is discussed.

Quest, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Shock analysis - Three useful new relations

The behavior of collisionless hydromagnetic shocks in interplanetary space is considered analytically, with a focus on relations, implicit in the governing Rankine-Hugoniot equations, involving the magnetic field (B) and the plasma velocity (V). A moving reference frame aligned with the shock is employed, and expressions are derived which make it possible (1) to determine the speed of a shock of arbitrary orientation from upstream and downstream measurements of B and V; (2) to characterize the change in flow direction as the plasma crosses the shock in terms of the plasma beta, the Mach number, and the angle between the upstream field and the shock normal; and (3) to infer the third component of the upstream-downstream velocity jump from B and two-dimensional V measurements. These expressions are applied to ISEE-3 data on an interplanetary shock on April 5, 1979, and the results are presented in tables.

Smith, Edward J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Binary index for assessing local bow shock obliquity.

The earth's collisionless plasma bow shock has, overall, a nonuniform structure whose magnetic profile is simultaneously that of a monotonic or laminar perpendicular shock and of a multigradient oblique shock, depending on the local orientation of the interplanetary field to the nominal shock surface. A 'pulsation index' Ip has been devised from empirical results to provide a simple convenient means of assessing the probable local character of the shock's structure; Ip = 0 or 1, according to whether local field geometry favors perpendicular or oblique structure, respectively, at a chosen point of observation on the nominal shock surface.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-dimensional hybrid simulation of a curved bow shock

Results are presented from two-dimensional hybrid simulations of curved collisionless supercritical shocks, retaining both quasi-perpendicular and quasi-parallel sections of the shock in order to study the character and origin of the foreshock ion population. The simulations demonstrate that the foreshock ion population is dominated by ions impinging upon the quasi-parallel side of the shock, while nonlocal transport from the quasi-perpendicular side of the shock into the foreshock region is minimal. Further, it is shown that the ions gain energy by drifting significantly in the direction of the convection electric field through multiple shock encounters.

Thomas, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Heliospheric shocks (excluding planetary bow shocks)

A summary of advances made during 1983-1985 in the theory of collisionless heliospheric shocks is presented (with reference to the latest observations of slow shocks in the geomagnetic tail) together with a summary of recently developed simulations of shock structure and shock propagation. Consideration is also given to the theoretical basis for the production of energetic particles by shocks in the solar wind and the corona. Finally, satellite-based observations related to interplanetary and coronal shocks and to heliospheric boundary shock are discussed.

Mihalov, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Turbulence in electrostatic ion acoustic shocks

Three types of collisionless electrostatic ion acoustic shocks are investigated using a double plasma (DP) device: (1) laminar shocks; (2) small amplitude turbulent shocks in which the turbulence is confined to be upstream of the shock potential jump; and (3) large amplitude turbulent shocks in which the wave turbulence occurs throughout the shock transition. The wave turbulence is generated by ions which are reflected from the shock potential; linear theory spatial growth increments agree with experimental values. The experimental relationship between the shock Mach number and the shock potential is shown to be inconsistent with theoretical shock models which assume that the electrons are isothermal. Theoretical calculations which assume a trapped electron equation of a state and a turbulently flattened velocity distrubution function for the reflected ions yields a Mach number vs potential relationship in agreement with experiment.

Means, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A summary of observations of the earth's bow shock

The earth's bow shock can be regarded as a fast steady-state collisionless magnetohydrodynamic shock exhibiting a wide range of plasma parameter values or as an example of superalfvenic flow of a MHD fluid past a blunt body. This paper summarizes our knowledge of the bow shock. Satellite crossings of the shock have given some empirical data on the position and shape of the bow shock. Theoretical calculations on position and shape show the critical nature of the Alfven number. The main physical process to be explained with regard to the bow shock is the mechanism of thermalization of the upstream solar wind. Some of the main classes of shocks observed are quasi-parallel shocks, low Mach number laminar shocks, and high beta shocks.

Fairfield, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The role of drifts in diffusive shock acceleration

The role played by shock-associated drifts during the diffusive acceleration of charged particles at collisionless MHD shocks is evaluated. In the rest frame of the shock, the total energy gained by a particle is shown to result from two coupled acceleration mechanisms, the usual first-order Fermi mechanism and the drift mechanism. When averaged over a distribution of particles, the ratio of the drift-associated energy gain to the total energy is found to be independent of the total energy at a given theta1 (the angle between the shock normal and the unperturbed upstream magnetic field) in agreement with theoretical predictions. No evidence is found for drift-associated deceleration, suggesting that drifts always augment acceleration.

Decker, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Direct Multipoint Observations Capturing the Reformation of a Supercritical Fast Magnetosonic Shock

Using multipoint Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations in an unusual string-of-pearls configuration, we examine in detail observations of the reformation of a fast magnetosonic shock observed on the upstream edge of a foreshock transient structure upstream of Earth’s bow shock. The four MMS spacecraft were separated by several hundred km, comparable to suprathermal ion gyro-radius scales or several ion inertial lengths. At least half of the shock reformation cycle was observed, with a new shock ramp rising up out of the “foot” region of the original shock ramp. Using the multipoint observations, we convert the observed time-series data into distance along the shock normal in the shock’s rest frame. That conversion allows for a unique study of the relative spatial scales of the shock’s various features, including the shock’s growth rate, and how they evolve during the reformation cycle. Analysis indicates that: the growth rate increases during reformation, electron-scale physics play an important role in the shock reformation, and energy conversion processes also undergo the same cyclical periodicity as reformation. Strong, thin electron-kinetic-scale current sheets and large-amplitude electrostatic and electromagnetic waves are reported. Evidence is also presented of nonlinear wave decay from electromagnetic whistler-mode “lion roars” to electrostatic solitary waves in the downstream plasma regime. Results highlight the critical cross-scale coupling between electron-kinetic-and ion-kinetic-scale processes and details of the nature of nonstationarity, shock-front reformation at collisionless, fast magnetosonic shocks.

D L Turner↗
NASA NTRS1986

The origin of cosmic rays

Data related to the development of cosmic rays are discussed. The relationship between cosmic ray production and the steady-state Boltzmann equation is analyzed. The importance of the power-law spectrum, the scattering rate, the theory of shock acceleration, anisotropic instabilities, and cosmic ray diffusion in the formation of cosmic rays is described. It is noted that spacecraft observations at the earth's bow shock are useful for studying cosmic rays and that the data support the collisionless shock-wave theory of cosmic ray origin.

Eichler, D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Turbulence in electrostatic ion-acoustic shocks

Three types of collisionless electrostatic ion-acoustic shocks are investigated using the University of California, Los Angeles, double plasma device: (1) laminar shocks; (2) small amplitude turbulent shocks in which the turbulence is confined to be upstream of the shock potential jump; and (3) large amplitude turbulent shocks in which the wave turbulence occurs throughout the shock transition. The wave turbulence is generated by ions which are reflected from the shock potential; linear theory spatial growth increments agree with experimental values. The experimental relationship between the shock Mach number and the shock potential is shown to be inconsistent with theoretical shock models which assume that the electrons are isothermal. Theoretical calculations which assume a trapped electron equation of a state and a turbulently flattened velocity distribution function for the reflected ions yields a Mach number vs potential relationship in agreement with experiment.

Means, R. W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Shock Propagation and Associated Particle Acceleration in the Presence of Ambient Solar-Wind Turbulence

The topic of this review paper is on the influence of solar wind turbulence on shock propagation and its consequence on the acceleration and transport of energetic particles at shocks. As the interplanetary shocks sweep through the turbulent solar wind, the shock surfaces fluctuate and ripple in a range of different scales. We discuss particle acceleration at rippled shocks in the presence of ambient solar-wind turbulence. This strongly affects particle acceleration and transport of energetic particles (both ions and electrons) at shock fronts. In particular, we point out that the effects of upstream turbulence is critical for understanding the variability of energetic particles at shocks. Moreover, the presence of pre-existing upstream turbulence significantly enhances the trapping near the shock of low-energy charged particles, including those near the thermal energy of the incident plasma, even when the shock propagates normal to the average magnetic field. Pre-existing turbulence, always present in space plasmas, provides a means for the efficient acceleration of low-energy particles and overcoming the well known injection problem at shocks.

, solar wind↗
NASA NTRS1989

Alpha particles in field-aligned beams upstream of the bow shock - Simulations

The possibility that field-aligned ion beams (FABs) formed by direct reflection could contain alpha particles is studied using self-consistent hybrid simulations of an oblique collisionless, supercritical shock. It is found that alpha particles can backstream from a shock in which the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field is 45 degrees. The deficit of alpha particles in the FABs, expressed as a relative density ratio to H(+) normalized to the solar wind He(2+) to H(+) density ratio, varies between about 0.1 and less than 0.01 and depends on the upstream H(+) and He(2+) temperatures.

Burgess, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Very high Mach number shocks - Theory

The 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.

Quest, Kevin B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Model development of supersonic trough wind with shocks

The time dependent one dimensional hydrodynamic equations describe the evolution of the thermal plasma flow along closed magnetic field lines outside of the plasmasphere. The convection of the supersonic polar wind onto a closed fieldline results in the assumed formation of collisionless plasma shocks. These shocks move earthward as the field line with its frozen-in plasma remains fixed or contracts with time to smaller L coordinates. The high equatorial plasma temperature (of the order of electron volts) produced by the shock process decreases with time if the flow is isothermal but it will increase if the contraction is under adiabatic conditions. Assuming adiabaticity a peak in the temperature forms at the equator in conjunction with a depression in the ion density. After an initial contraction, if the flux tube drifts to higher L coordinates the direction of the shock motion can be reversed so that the supersonic region will expand along the field line towards the state characterizing the supersonic polar wind. A rapid expansion will lower the equatorial density while the temperature decreases with time under adiabatic but not isothermal conditions.

Grebowsky, J. M.↗