Multimission observations of relativistic electrons and high-speed jets linked to shock-generated transientsNorthumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China.
Departamento de Ciencias Espaciales, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, MD, Laurel, United States.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD, Greenbelt, United States.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, United Kingdom.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, MD, Laurel, United States.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, MD, Laurel, United States.
Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Division of Space and Plasma Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD, Greenbelt, United States.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD, Greenbelt, United States; Catholic University of America, Goddard Space Flight Center, MD, Greenbelt, United States.
Departamento de Ciencias Espaciales, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, MD, Laurel, United States.
ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
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2025 (English)In: Astrophysical Journal Letters, ISSN 2041-8205, E-ISSN 2041-8213, Vol. 981, no 1, article id L10Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Shock-generated transients, such as hot flow anomalies (HFAs), upstream of planetary bow shocks, play a critical role in electron acceleration. Using multimission data from NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale and ESA’s Cluster missions, we demonstrate the transmission of HFAs through Earth’s quasi-parallel bow shock, accelerating electrons to relativistic energies in the process. Energetic electrons initially accelerated upstream are shown to remain broadly confined within the transmitted transient structures downstream, where they get further energized due to the elevated compression levels potentially by betatron acceleration. Additionally, high-speed jets form at the compressive edges of HFAs, exhibiting a significant increase in dynamic pressure and potentially contributing to further localized compression. Our findings emphasize the efficiency of quasi-parallel shocks in driving particle acceleration far beyond the immediate shock transition region, expanding the acceleration region to a larger spatial domain. Finally, this study underscores the importance of a multiscale observational approach in understanding the convoluted processes behind collisionless shock physics and their broader implications.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institute of Physics (IOP), 2025. Vol. 981, no 1, article id L10
National Category
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-236239DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adb154ISI: 001432836200001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85219158835OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-236239DiVA, id: diva2:1949217
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2018–03623Swedish National Space Board, 2022-00138EU, European Research Council, WAVESTORMS - 1011245002025-04-022025-04-022025-04-02Bibliographically approved