Formation and Structure of Electrostatic Collisionless Shocks
D. W. ForslundLos Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544C. R. ShonkLos Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
ABI
Abstract
A one-dimensional, two-species numerical-simulation code has been used to study the formation and structure of collisionless electrostatic shocks formed by two colliding plasmas and by a plasma striking a perfectly reflecting piston. Collisionless shocks are formed in hydrogen up to a maximum piston velocity of $M\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{{v}_{D}}{{c}_{S}}\ensuremath{\sim}3.5$. Shocks with velocities up to $M\ensuremath{\sim}4$ have been produced which have a predominantly laminar structure accompanied by strong collisionless dissipation.
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