Shock Mach Number Estimates Using Incomplete Measurements

Michael Gedalin; Christopher T. Russell; Andrew P. Dimmock

doi:10.1029/2021JA029519

Shock Mach Number Estimates Using Incomplete Measurements

Michael Gedalin, Christopher T. Russell, Andrew P. Dimmock

Department of Physics

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The Mach number is one of the most important parameters of collisionless shocks. The accuracy of its observational determination is compromised by several complications. Incomplete measurements of plasma parameters significantly contribute to the uncertainty, along with the errors of the normal determination. A set of CLUSTER observed shocks is analyzed using several methods for finding the shock normal and to circumvent the shortcomings of the plasma data. A relation between the maximum magnetic compression and the Alfvénic Mach number is established. It is proposed as a proxy for the Mach number estimate when measurements are incomplete.

Original language	American English
Article number	e2021JA029519
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume	126
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029519
State	Published - 1 Oct 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Space and Planetary Science
Geophysics

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10.1029/2021JA029519

Cite this

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abstract = "The Mach number is one of the most important parameters of collisionless shocks. The accuracy of its observational determination is compromised by several complications. Incomplete measurements of plasma parameters significantly contribute to the uncertainty, along with the errors of the normal determination. A set of CLUSTER observed shocks is analyzed using several methods for finding the shock normal and to circumvent the shortcomings of the plasma data. A relation between the maximum magnetic compression and the Alfv{\'e}nic Mach number is established. It is proposed as a proxy for the Mach number estimate when measurements are incomplete.",

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N2 - The Mach number is one of the most important parameters of collisionless shocks. The accuracy of its observational determination is compromised by several complications. Incomplete measurements of plasma parameters significantly contribute to the uncertainty, along with the errors of the normal determination. A set of CLUSTER observed shocks is analyzed using several methods for finding the shock normal and to circumvent the shortcomings of the plasma data. A relation between the maximum magnetic compression and the Alfvénic Mach number is established. It is proposed as a proxy for the Mach number estimate when measurements are incomplete.

AB - The Mach number is one of the most important parameters of collisionless shocks. The accuracy of its observational determination is compromised by several complications. Incomplete measurements of plasma parameters significantly contribute to the uncertainty, along with the errors of the normal determination. A set of CLUSTER observed shocks is analyzed using several methods for finding the shock normal and to circumvent the shortcomings of the plasma data. A relation between the maximum magnetic compression and the Alfvénic Mach number is established. It is proposed as a proxy for the Mach number estimate when measurements are incomplete.

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IS - 10

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Shock Mach Number Estimates Using Incomplete Measurements

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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