Work

Relationship Between Foreshock Structures and Magnetosheath Jets

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Plasma structures with enhanced dynamic pressure know as jets are frequently observed in the magnetosheath. We examine a possible connection of these jets with structures reported in the foreshock like SLAMS or plasmoids. A statistical study of the relation of the upstream conditions and the occurrence rates of magnetosheath (MSH) jets and foreshock structures revealed that foreshock structures prefer the low interplanetary magnetic field and high Mach number whereas MSH jets are more frequently observed under extremely high solar wind density. The case studies of simultaneous observations in the foreshock and the magnetosheath have shown that the presence of foreshock structures is not a necessary condition for observations of strong MSH jets in the downstream and vice versa. We suggest that the source of a significant part of MSH jets is the bow shock reformation initiated by the changes of magnetic field orientation just in front of the bow shock.

Source: Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics

DOI: 10.1029/2026ja035161

Authors: N. Xirogiannopoulou, O. Goncharov, J. Šafránková, Z. Němeček

Institution: Charles University

Language: English

Topic: Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,070

Funder: Grantová Agentura České Republiky