EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Zank et al. 1991
Zank, G.P., Oughton, S., Neubauer, F.M. and Webb, G.M. (1991). Mass-loading and parallel magnetized shocks. Geophysical Research Letters 18: doi: 10.1029/91GL02242. issn: 0094-8276.

Recent observations at comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley suggest that simple non-reacting gas dynamics of MHD is an inappropriate description for the bow shock. The thickness of the observed (sub)shock implies that mass-loading is an important dynamical process within the shock itself, thereby requiring that the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions possess source terms. This leads to shocks with properties similar to those of combustion shocks. We consider parallel magnetized shocks subjected to mass-loading, describe some properties which distinguish them from classical MHD parallel shocks, and establish the existence of a new kind of MHD compound shock. These results will be of importance both to observations and numerical simulations of the comet-solar wind interaction.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Space Plasma Physics, Shock waves, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields, Interplanetary Physics, Planetary bow shocks, Space Plasma Physics, Kinetic and MHD theory
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit