Laboratory Measurements of Energy Partitioning and Anomalous Electron Heating in Magnetized, Perpendicular Collisionless Shocks
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present laboratory results on energy partitioning from supercritical, magnetized collisionless shock experiments ( M A ∼ 8, M ms ∼ 4). We report the first observation of fully developed laboratory shocks that evolve for more than seven upstream ion gyroperiods and have a downstream region that extends for more than four shocked ion gyroperiods. We use Thomson scattering to measure electron and ion temperatures, plasma density, and flow speeds. We directly measure a compression ratio of 3.6 ± 0.3, consistent with shock jump conditions. A foot ahead of the shock exhibits superadiabatic electron and ion heating. The downstream electron temperature exceeds adiabatic and collisional electron–ion heating by ≈30%, implying significant collisionless anomalous electron heating. We find a downstream electron–ion temperature ratio T e ( d ) / T i ( d ) = 0.8 ± 0.3 , consistent with spacecraft observations but outside the range predicted by theory and numerical simulations.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Institutions: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Plasma Technology (United States), Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Geospace Research (United States), University of Rochester, Kasetsart University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of California, Los Angeles
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
OpenAlex ID: W4415089841
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: