Quasi-perpendicular shock acceleration of ions to about 200 MeV and electrons to about 2 MeV observed by Voyager 2

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (62) References (21) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Quasi-perpendicular shock acceleration of ions to about 200 MeV and electrons to about 2 MeV observed by Voyager 2 Sarris, E. T. ; Krimigis, S. M. Abstract Observations of the acceleration of energetic ions to about 200 MeV and electrons to about 2 MeV detected by the Low Energy Charged Particle instrument on Voyager 2 in association with a quasi-perpendicular shock of theta(Bn) approximately equal to 87.5 deg at 1.9 AU are presented. This constitutes the highest energy ever observed in a particle intensity enhancement associated with a single shock. It is found that most of the energy density of the shock-accelerated energetic particles is carried by energetic ions in the energy range from a few hundred keV to several MeV and exceeds the energy density of the local magnetic field. The highest time resolution yet reported (1.2 s) for such shocks is used to reveal the structure of the energetic particle intensity enhancement down to a scale of the order of the particle gyroradius. The observations indicate that the most efficient particle acceleration to the highest energies detected in association with shocks is encountered in quasi-perpendicular shock fronts, and that such fronts are the most likely process for cosmic-ray acceleration in astrophysical shocks. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1985 DOI: 10.1086/163651 Bibcode: 1985ApJ...298..676S Keywords: Interplanetary Medium; Ion Motion; Particle Acceleration; Shock Wave Propagation; Electron Acceleration; Particle Flux Density; Spacecraft Instruments; Voyager 2 Spacecraft; Space Radiation full text sources ADS |