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Rodriguez & Gurnett 1976
Rodriguez, P. and Gurnett, D.A. (1976). Correlation of bow shock plasma wave turbulence with solar wind parameters. Journal of Geophysical Research 81: doi: 10.1029/JA081i016p02871. issn: 0148-0227.

The rms field strengths of electrostatic and electromagnetic turbulence in the earth's bow shock, measured in the frequency range 20 Hz to 200 kHz with the Imp 6 satellite, are found to correlate with specific solar wind parameters measured upstream of the bow shock. The largest rms field strengths of electrostatic turbulence (200 Hz to 4 kHz) occur when the upstream electron to proton temperature ratio Te/Tp is large and when the proton temperature Tp is small, an indication that the mechanism for generating electrostatic turbulence in the bow shock is more efficient when lower upstream proton temperatures occur. No substantial correlation is found between the rms field strengths of electrostatic turbulence and three upstream parameters commonly used to classify the magnetohydrodynamic structure of the turbulent bow shock: the Alfv¿n Mach number MA, the ratio of particle pressure to magnetic field pressure &bgr;, and the shock normal angle &psgr; (B,?). The strong correlation with Te/Tp and Tp and the lack of strong correlation with MA, &bgr;, and &psgr; (B,?) indicate that the strength of electrostatic turbulence in the bow shock is determined by the kinetic properties of the solar wind plasma rather than by its fluid properties. The largest rms field strengths for electromagnetic turbulence (20 Hz to 4 kHz) occur when the upstream particle density N is large and when the shock normal angle &psgr; (B,?f) is closer to 90¿, this result supporting a previous conclusion that whistler waves comprise the electromagnetic turbulence in the bow shock. Electric field turbulence, compoased of both electrostatic and electromagnetic fluctuations, correlates with the upstream parameters Te/Tp, Tp, Tp, and &psgr; (B,?) in such a way as to imply that mode coupling occurs between electrostatic and electromagnetic waves. A broad spectrum of high-frequency (3-30 kHz) electrostatic turbulence typically observed in the leading edge of the bow shock is interpreted as indicating the region of electron heating. Deeper within the shock transition the intensity of low-frequency (<3 kHz) electrostatic turbulence greatly increases to form a broad peak, centered between 200 and 800 Hz, and is interpreted as corresponding to the region of maximum proton heating. The characteristic development of the electric field spectrum through the shock transition indicates that strong coupling exists between the electron and proton heating processes.

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Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
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