Observations of a switch-off shock in interplanetary space

H. Q. Feng, C. C. Lin, J. K. Chao, D. J. Wu, L. H. Lyu, L. C. Lee

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Abstract

An interplanetary slow shock event was observed by Voyager 1 on 1 November 1980. The structure is identified to be a switch-off shock which is a special type of slow shocks by fitting the Rankine-Hugoniot relations. The shock has the following properties: (1) Observed parameters meet the R-H relations well. (2) Number density increases from the upstream region to the downstream region. On the contrary, total magnetic field strength decreases. (3) The slow-mode Mach number is greater than unity in the preshock state and less than unity in the postshock state. (4) The normal Alfvén-Mach number is almost equal to 1 in the preshock state; the tangential component of the downstream magnetic field is t"urned off," leaving only a minor quantity along the shock normal.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberA05216
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume113
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2008

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