Journal Article

Whistler waves associated with weak interplanetary shocks

Russell, C. T., Kajdič, P., Luhmann, J. G., Blanco-Cano, X., Jian, L. K., Aguilar-Rodriguez, E., Ramírez Vélez, J. C.

2012

Overview

We analyze the properties of 98 weak interplanetary shocks measured by the dual STEREO spacecraft over approximately 3 years during the past solar minimum. We study the occurrence of whistler waves associated with these shocks, which on average are high beta shocks (0.2 < β< 10). We have compared the waves properties upstream and downstream of the shocks. In the upstream region the waves are mainly circularly polarized, and in most of the cases (∼75%) they propagate almost parallel to the ambient magnetic field (<30°). In contrast, the propagation angle with respect to the shock normal varies in a broad range of values (20° to 90°), suggesting that they are not phase standing. We find that the whistler waves can extend up to 100,000 km in the upstream region but in most cases (88%) are contained in a distance within 30,000 km from the shock. This corresponds to a larger region with upstream whistlers associated with IP shocks than previously reported in the literature. The maximum amplitudes of the waves are observed next to the shock interface, and they decrease as the distance to the shock increases. In most cases the wave propagation direction becomes more aligned with the magnetic field as the distance to the shock increases. These two facts suggest that most of the waves in the upstream region are Landau damping as they move away from the shock. From the analysis we also conclude that it is likely that the generation mechanism of the upstream whistler waves is taking place at the shock interface. In the downstream region, the waves are irregularly polarized, and the fluctuations are very compressive; that is, the compressive component of the wave clearly dominates over the transverse one. The majority of waves in the downstream region (95%) propagate at oblique angles with respect to the ambient magnetic field (>60°). The wave propagation with respect to the shock‐normal direction has no preferred direction and varies similarly to the upstream case. It is possible that downstream fluctuations are generated by ion relaxation as suggested in previous hybrid simulation shocks. Key Points Full description of the whistler wave properties in interplanetary shocks First comparison between downstream and upstream whistler waves Study of the plasma properties associated with the interplanetary shocks

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,American Geophysical Union
• Subject: Astronomy / Astrophysics / Earth, ocean, space / Electrostatic and electromagnetic waves / Exact sciences and technology / External geophysics / Fluctuations / Interaction between magnetosphere and interplanetary space / interplanetary shocks / Interplanetary space / Magnetic fields / Physics of the magnetosphere / Planetology / Shock waves / Solar system / Space / Spacecraft / Upstream / Wave propagation / whistler waves