Premium
Energetic plasma ions within the Earth's magnetosheath
Author(s) -
Asbridge J. R.,
Bame S. J.,
Gosling J. T.,
Paschmann G.,
Sckopke N.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl005i011p00953
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , plasma , physics , ion , solar wind , atomic physics , interplanetary spaceflight , bow wave , bow shock (aerodynamics) , shock wave , magnetopause , mechanics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
Observations in the dawn magnetosheath with the LASL/MPI fast plasma experiment on ISEE 1 and 2 reveal the existence of two distinct states of plasma flow within the sheath: 1) a "quiet" state; and 2) a "disturbed" state. Energetic ions in the range of 3‐40 keV are the distinguishing feature of the disturbed state. Long period (∼ 1 minute) fluctuations in plasma density, temperature, flow speed, and flow direction occur simultaneously with the appearance of these high energy particles. The most likely explanation of these observaons is that the energetic ions are produced in the vicinity of the bow shock under certain (unspecified) interplanetary conditions, and the fluctuations in plasma flow are produced locally by the interaction of the energetic ions with the ambient plasma.