Title: Scatter‐free propagation of low‐energy protons in the magnetosheath: Implications for the production of field‐aligned ion beams by nonthermal leakage
Abstract: We investigate the scatter‐free propagation of low‐energy (1–5 keV) protons in the magnetosheath by following test particle trajectories in a model of the magnetosheath fields previously obtained from gasdynamic simulations. We concentrate on those ions energized by near‐specular reflection at the quasi‐perpendicular shock: the reflected‐gyrating ions. Our results indicate that for the most common orientations of the interplanetary field, it is unlikely that such ions when scattered in pitch angle behind the near‐perpendicular bow shock (θ Bn ⩾80°) can contribute to upstream field‐aligned beams leaving the bow shock at shock‐normal angles (θ Bn ) greater than 45°. Reflected‐gyrating ions similarly scattered behind the quasi‐perpendicular shock (θ Bn ⩾45°) are more likely to contribute to such beams by leaking from the bow shock close to where they entered the magnetosheath.
Publication Year: 1986
Publication Date: 1986-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 15
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