Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements
The Mach number is one of the key parameters of collisionless shocks. Understanding shock physics requires knowledge of the spatial scales in the shock transition layer. The standard methods of determining the Mach number and the spatial scales require simultaneous measurements of the magnetic field...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.852720/full |
| _version_ | 1819158817689042944 |
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| author | Michael Gedalin Ephim Golbraikh Christopher T. Russell Andrew P. Dimmock |
| author_facet | Michael Gedalin Ephim Golbraikh Christopher T. Russell Andrew P. Dimmock |
| author_sort | Michael Gedalin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Mach number is one of the key parameters of collisionless shocks. Understanding shock physics requires knowledge of the spatial scales in the shock transition layer. The standard methods of determining the Mach number and the spatial scales require simultaneous measurements of the magnetic field and the particle density, velocity, and temperature. While magnetic field measurements are usually of high quality and resolution, particle measurements are often either unavailable or not properly adjusted to the plasma conditions. We show that theoretical arguments can be used to overcome the limitations of observations and determine the Mach number and spatial scales of the low-Mach number shock when only magnetic field data are available. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:30:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a31811bc788f48b3bb933e5e2d880e52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T16:30:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a31811bc788f48b3bb933e5e2d880e522022-12-21T18:20:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2022-03-011010.3389/fphy.2022.852720852720Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic MeasurementsMichael Gedalin0Ephim Golbraikh1Christopher T. Russell2Andrew P. Dimmock3Department of Physics, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, IsraelDepartment of Physics, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, IsraelDepartment of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, SwedenThe Mach number is one of the key parameters of collisionless shocks. Understanding shock physics requires knowledge of the spatial scales in the shock transition layer. The standard methods of determining the Mach number and the spatial scales require simultaneous measurements of the magnetic field and the particle density, velocity, and temperature. While magnetic field measurements are usually of high quality and resolution, particle measurements are often either unavailable or not properly adjusted to the plasma conditions. We show that theoretical arguments can be used to overcome the limitations of observations and determine the Mach number and spatial scales of the low-Mach number shock when only magnetic field data are available.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.852720/fullcollisionless shocksmagnetic fieldplanetary shocksheliospherebow shock |
| spellingShingle | Michael Gedalin Ephim Golbraikh Christopher T. Russell Andrew P. Dimmock Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements Frontiers in Physics collisionless shocks magnetic field planetary shocks heliosphere bow shock |
| title | Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements |
| title_full | Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements |
| title_short | Theory Helps Observations: Determination of the Shock Mach Number and Scales From Magnetic Measurements |
| title_sort | theory helps observations determination of the shock mach number and scales from magnetic measurements |
| topic | collisionless shocks magnetic field planetary shocks heliosphere bow shock |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2022.852720/full |
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