Properties of plasmas associated with fluctuations in the upstream of Earth's bow shock

  • Lee, En-Sang (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lin, Naiguo (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California) ;
  • Parks, George (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California) ;
  • Kim, Khan-Hyuk (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Dong-Hun (School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University)
  • Published : 2012.04.03

Abstract

Various electromagnetic fluctuations are observed in the upstream of Earth's bow shock. Properties of plasmas are important in determining the development of the fluctuations. In this study we analyze the phase space distribution functions of plasmas measured by the Cluster spacecraft to understand how the fluctuations develop. Plasmas in the upstream of Earth's bow shock often consist of multiple components, especially when the fluctuations exist. In addition to the solar wind beams, backstreaming ion beams and diffuse ions are also often observed separately or simultaneously. The solar wind beams are not much perturbed even within the fluctuations. The diffuse ions are more than 10 times hotter than the solar wind beams and the backstreaming beams intermediate between them. The distribution functions of the diffuse and backstreaming ions are anisotropic to the magnetic field. Thus, they may be responsible for the fluctuations associated with temperature anisotropy. We will discuss about the thermalization processes and the relationship between the fluctuations and plasmas.

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