Electron heating in quasiperpendicular shocks

M. Gedalin, M. Balikhin, V. Krasnosselskikh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrons move in the shock ramp fields prescribed by ions. Observed ramp thicknesses and cross-shock potentials imply that in many cases adiabaticity in the lectron motion in the ramp is broken. A substantial fraction of the cross-shock potential is transferred into the electron gyration energy. As a result, electrons experience direct overadiabatic perpendicular heating. The heating magnitude is in agreement with observed values. Numerically obtained downstream distributions demonstrate a clear tendency to be flattopped both in parallel and perpendicular directions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-233
Number of pages9
JournalAdvances in Space Research
Volume15
Issue number8-9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geophysics
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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