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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 29, NO. 24, 2234, doi:10.1029/2002GL015915, 2002

Reformation of perpendicular shocks: Hybrid simulations

P. Hellinger

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Prague, Czech Republic


P. Trávnícek

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Prague, Czech Republic


H. Matsumoto

RASC, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, Japan


Abstract

We show that in one-dimensional hybrid simulations supercritical perpendicular shocks have a well-defined, slightly oscillating structure (including foot, ramp, overshoot, and undershoot) for hot upstream protons and low Mach numbers. In this case the reflected protons are able to stop the shock steepening at proton scales. However, for colder upstream protons and/or higher Mach numbers simulated shocks show a nonstationary feature, namely a periodic reappearance of a new shock front. These nonstationary shocks simulated by one-dimensional hybrid code have shock front gradient scales that are governed only by the spatial resolution used in the code. Consequently, we conclude that the one-dimensional hybrid code is not suitable for description of perpendicular nonstationary shocks.

Published 28 December 2002.

Index Terms: 2154 Interplanetary Physics: Planetary bow shocks; 7851 Space Plasma Physics: Shock waves; 7843 Space Plasma Physics: Numerical simulation studies; 7839 Space Plasma Physics: Nonlinear phenomena; 2139 Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary shocks.

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Citation: Hellinger, P., P. Trávnícek, and H. Matsumoto (2002), Reformation of perpendicular shocks: Hybrid simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(24), 2234, doi:10.1029/2002GL015915.