Interplanetary shock waves of the fast, slow and switch types
Abstract
Plasma and magnetic field data from HEOS-1 were used to identify interplanetary shocks. During the periods from Dec. 1968 to April 1969 and from Sept. 1969 to Dec. 1969, 19 events were obtained. Among the observed events of the fast and slow type, two switch-on and four switch-off shocks were identified. Such types of shock have never been previously reported. The study of a particular case of a switch-off shock (for which data of 4 satellites were available) led to the conclusion that switch-off shocks are stable at least for periods of about half an hour. Moreover, the study of the complex structure of a sector-boundary revealed the existence of two switch-off shocks associated with two fast shocks (forward and reverse); such a structure suggests that switch shocks can be generated in connection with the magnetic field reconnection phenomena.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- April 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975STIN...7634114F
- Keywords:
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- Earth Magnetosphere;
- Heos A Satellite;
- Interplanetary Magnetic Fields;
- Interplanetary Space;
- Magnetic Field Reconnection;
- Shock Waves;
- Collisionless Plasmas;
- Structures;
- Wave Propagation;
- Space Radiation