Parametric Study of the Formation of Magnetohydrodynamic Shocks. III. Fast and Slow Shocks
Abstract
Dimensionless parameters are used to represent two colliding streams and investigate how various parameters control the transition of the nature of the shock system from a pair of slow shocks to a system of two slow shocks and two fast shocks, and finally to a pair of fast shocks. At decreasing beta and theta (the angle between the wave normal and the field) the fast shocks become weaker and the slow shocks become stronger. At small beta and theta, the shock system may consist of slow shocks only. At large momentum impact parameter Lambda, the formation of slow shocks becomes less likely and the strength of fast shocks is a monotonically increasing function of Lambda. At increasing beta and theta, the fast shocks become stronger and the slow shocks diminish. The findings are related to corotating shocks and CME-associated shocks. It is determined that the CME-associated shocks are slow shocks and the normals of these shocks make small angles with the magnetic field.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1086/170680
- Bibcode:
- 1991ApJ...381..559W
- Keywords:
-
- Magnetohydrodynamics;
- Shock Wave Interaction;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Neighborhood;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Particle Emission;
- Solar Wind;
- Space Plasmas;
- Solar Physics;
- HYDROMAGNETICS;
- SHOCK WAVES;
- SUN: PARTICLE EMISSION;
- SUN: SOLAR WIND