Title :
Full particle simulations of quasi-perpendicular shocks: mass ratio dependence of shock properties
Author :
Matsukiyo, Shuiclu ; Scholer, M.
Author_Institution :
ESST, Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka, Japan
Abstract :
Properties of low beta quasi-perpendicular shocks for various ion-to-electron mass ratios are studied by using a one dimensional full particle simulation code. It is shown that the shock reformation process changes depending on the mass ratio. In unrealistically low mass ratio runs, the reformation is due to the accumulation of gyrating specularly reflected ions at the upstream edge of the foot. At realistic mass ratios, on the other hand, the above process is strongly modified by ion thermalization associated with the modified two-stream instability in the foot. At sufficiently low mass ratio, the Buneman instability gets excited in the foot while it is stabilized at higher mass ratios. The two reformation mechanisms are compared in detail by additional runs.
Keywords :
plasma instability; plasma simulation; shock wave effects; Buneman instability; gyrating specularly reflected ions; ion thermalization; ion-to-electron mass ratios; low beta quasi-perpendicular shocks; plasma; shock reformation process; two-stream instability; Analytical models; Character generation; Electric shock; Electrons; Foot; Magnetic fields; Numerical simulation; Plasma properties; Plasma simulation; Polarization;
Conference_Titel :
Radio Science Conference, 2004. Proceedings. 2004 Asia-Pacific
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8404-0
DOI :
10.1109/APRASC.2004.1422566