Solar wind and bow shock parameters affecting turbulence development inside the magnetosheath

Abstract

<p>Development of the turbulent cascade inside the magnetosheath is known to be affected by the bow shock. Recently a number of studies showed various scenario of turbulent cascade modification at the bow shock including deviation from Kolmogorov scaling and additional damping of the kinetic-scale compressive fluctuations. Also, properties of probability distribution function may be modified behind the bow shock. However, factors which govern turbulence development in the magnetosheath remain unclear. Present study focuses on experimental analysis of the solar wind parameters which influence turbulence inside the magnetosheath. Analyzed data involves the combination of the solar wind parameters measured in L1 point by WIND spacecraft and Themis, Cluster and Spektr-R measurements behind the bow shock. Parameters of the frequency spectra of ion flux and/or magnetic field magnitude at frequency band from 0.01 to 2-10 Hz are considered such as slopes at magnetohydrodynamic and kinetic scales and the break frequency. Parameters of spectra are considered behind the bow shock of various topology i.e. for different mutual orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field and the local bow shock normal. Also, distance from the analyzed point to the bow shock nose is taken to the account. Obtained results point out that modification of the turbulent cascade at the bow shock is controlled not only by the bow shock topology but also by variability of the upstream solar wind plasma parameters and direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. In particular, Kolmogorov scaling often survives across the bow shock during periods of high-amplitude variations of plasma density and magnetic field magnitude in the solar wind. Also, increasing amplitude of northern interplanetary magnetic field results in steepening of spectra behind the bow shock.  </p>