ISSN:
1089-7666
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
This paper discusses the interaction between perpendicular magnetohydrodynamic shocks (S) as well as tangential discontinuities (T). The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The collision between a forward shock (S↘) and a reverse shock (S(downward left arrow)) produces a shock system consisting of a weaker reverse shock, a tangential discontinuity, and a weaker forward shock, namely, S↘S(downward left arrow)→S(downward left arrow)TS↘. (2) The merging of two forward shocks leads to a stronger forward shock, followed by a tangential discontinuity and a reverse wave. For a given βr (the ratio of gas pressure to magnetic pressure) of the background plasma, there exists a critical parameter γc. When the adiabatic index γ〈γc, the reverse wave is a rarefaction wave (R(downward left arrow)). When γ(approximately-greater-than)γc, the reverse wave produced by merging of strong shocks is still a rarefaction wave but the reverse wave becomes a shock when weak shocks merge. (3) The interaction between a forward shock and a tangential discontinuity may form S(downward left arrow)TS↘, R(downward left arrow)TS↘, or TS↘, depending on the strength of the initial forward shock and the property of the initial tangential discontinuity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.860516
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