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Large amplitude MHD waves upstream of the Jovian bow shockObservations of large amplitude magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) waves upstream of Jupiter's bow shock are analyzed. The waves are found to be right circularly polarized in the solar wind frame which suggests that they are propagating in the fast magnetosonic mode. A complete spectral and minimum variance eigenvalue analysis of the data was performed. The power spectrum of the magnetic fluctuations contains several peaks. The fluctuations at 2.3 mHz have a direction of minimum variance along the direction of the average magnetic field. The direction of minimum variance of these fluctuations lies at approximately 40 deg. to the magnetic field and is parallel to the radial direction. We argue that these fluctuations are waves excited by protons reflected off the Jovian bow shock. The inferred speed of the reflected protons is about two times the solar wind speed in the plasma rest frame. A linear instability analysis is presented which suggests an explanation for many of the observed features of the observations.
Document ID
19830014990
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Goldstein, M. L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Smith, C. W. (New Hampshire Univ. College Park, United States)
Matthaeus, W. H. (Maryland Univ.)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1983
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-85005
NAS 1.15:85005
Accession Number
83N23261
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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