Electron Kinetic Entropy across Quasi-Perpendicular Shocks

• We use Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data to study electron kinetic entropy per particle Se across Earth's quasi-perpendicular bow shock. We have selected 22 shock crossings covering a wide range of shock conditions. Measured distribution functions are calibrated and corrected for spacecraft potential, secondary electron contamination, lack of measurements at the lowest energies and electron density measurements based on plasma frequency measurements. All crossings display an increase in electron kinetic entropy across the shock Delta S-e being positive or zero within their error margin. There is a strong dependence of Delta S-e on the change in electron temperature, Delta T-e, and the upstream electron plasma beta, beta(e). Shocks with large Delta T-e have large Delta S-e. Shocks with smaller beta(e) are associated with larger Delta S-e. We use the values of Delta S-e, Delta Te and density change Delta n(e) to determine the effective adiabatic index of electrons for each shock crossing. The average effective adiabatic index is = 1.64 +/- 0.07.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

space plasma

electron kinetic entropy

quasi-perpendicular shock

adiabatic index

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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