Abstract
Using a one-dimensional gasdynamic model, it has previously been shown
that pickup ions (PIs) play a significant role in the propagation of
shock waves in the outer heliosphere. The effect of adding a magnetic
field to the heliospheric model and the resultant effect on shock wave
propagation are studied here. In the absence of PIs the addition of a
magnetic field has a significant effect on shock wave propagation,
yielding results very different from those obtained by simple gasdynamic
models. When PIs are included, the difference between the gasdynamic
case and the MHD case is quite small, indicating the dominant role
played by the PIs. The difference between shock propagation
characteristics when PIs are included and when they are ignored is not
nearly as great in the MHD case as it is in the gasdynamic case. One of
the main differences in the MHD case is the propagation of
pressure-balanced structures (PBSs), which are shown to be more easily
observed in the outer heliosphere when PIs are included. Besides PBSs,
the inclusion of a magnetic field also allows for the investigation of
structures such as magnetic clouds which can obviously not be studied
using a gasdynamic model.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 12563-12576 |
Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research |
Volume | 104 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 1999 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary shocks
- Interplanetary Physics: Pickup ions
- Interplanetary Physics: Discontinuities
- Interplanetary Physics: Ejecta
- driver gases
- and magnetic clouds