2021/04/06 by C. A. González, González, C. A., Anna Tenerani +7 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph) #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR) #Space Physics (physics.space-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2104.02540
openalex publication_date 2021/04/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Proton energization at magnetic discontinuities generated by phase-steepened fronts of parallel propagating, large-amplitude Alfvénic fluctuation is studied using hybrid simulations. We find that dispersive effects yield to the collapse of the wave via phase steepening and the subsequent generation of compressible fluctuations that mediate an efficient local energy transfer from the wave to the protons. Proton scattering at the steepened edges causes non-adiabatic proton perpendicular heating. Furthermore, the parallel electric field at the propagating fronts mediates the acceleration of protons along the mean field. A steady-state is achieved where proton distribution function displays a field-aligned beam at the Alfvén speed, and compressible fluctuations are largely damped. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of Alfvénic solar wind.