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Evolutionary conditions for shock waves in collisionless plasma and stability of the associated flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

Shigeki Morioka
Affiliation:
Space Sciences Division, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, California 94035
John R. Spreiter
Affiliation:
Space Sciences Division, Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, California 94035

Abstract

The evolutionary condition for transverse and normal shock waves, and the fire- hose and mirror instability conditions for the associated flow, in a collisionless, anisotropic plasma having a strong magnetic field are determined using the theoretical representation of Chew, Goldberger & Low (1956) for such a medium. The results are expressed in terms of the Mach number, Alfvén Mach number, and the ratio of the temperatures parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field in the flow approaching the shock wave, and applied to ascertain in what range of these parameters various types of instabilities may occur. The effect of the heat flux, which does not vanish generally in a collisionless plasma, on the shock stability is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

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References

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