Association of low-frequency waves with suprathermal ions in the upstream solar wind
Abstract
Observations obtained upstream of the earth’s bow shock with the LASL/MPI plasma instruments and the UCLA magnetometers on ISEE-1 and 2 have revealed a striking relationship between the presence of low-frequency fluctuations in solar wind density and field strength and the different types of distribution functions of upstream ions. Waves are absent when the ions have the beamlike distribution of the “reflected” ions. Large-amplitude waves are present only in conjunction with the “diffuse” ions, which are characterized by flat energy spectra and broad angular distributions. The waves are largely compressive, showing very good correlation between oscillations in magnetic field strength and plasma density.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL006i003p00209
- Bibcode:
- 1979GeoRL...6..209P
- Keywords:
-
- Ion Motion;
- Plasma Diagnostics;
- Shock Wave Propagation;
- Solar Wind;
- Bow Waves;
- Field Strength;
- Ion Beams;
- Ion Density (Concentration);
- Particles and Fields-Interplanetary Space: Solar wind magnetic fields;
- Particles and Fields-Interplanetary Space: Solar wind plasma;
- Particles and Fields-Magnetosphere: Bow shock waves