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The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Solar Orbiter (SolO) missions opened a new observational window in the inner heliosphere, which is finally accessible to direct measurements. On 2022 September 5, a coronal mass ejection (CME)-driven interplanetary (IP) shock was observed as close as 0.07 au by PSP. The CME then reached SolO, which was radially well-aligned at 0.7 au, thus providing us with the opportunity to study the shock properties at different heliocentric distances. We characterize the shock, investigate its typical parameters, and compare its small-scale features at both locations. Using the PSP observations, we investigate how magnetic switchbacks and ion cyclotron waves are processed upon shock crossing. We find that switchbacks preserve their V-B correlation while compressed upon the shock passage, and that the signature of ion cyclotron waves disappears downstream of the shock. By contrast, the SolO observations reveal a very structured shock transition, with a population of shock-accelerated protons of up to about 2 MeV, showing irregularities in the shock downstream, which we correlate with solar wind structures propagating across the shock. At SolO, we also report the presence of low-energy (similar to 100 eV) electrons scattering due to upstream shocklets. This study elucidates how the local features of IP shocks and their environments can be very different as they propagate through the heliosphere., QC 20240301

We present the first observations of short large-amplitude magnetic structures (denoted SLAMS) at Mercury. We have investigated approximately 4 years of MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) data to identify SLAMS in the Mercury foreshock. Defining SLAMS as magnetic field compressional structures, with an increase in magnetic field strength of at least twice the background magnetic field strength, when MESSENGER is located in the solar wind, we find 435 SLAMS. The SLAMS are found either in regions of a general ultra-low frequency (ULF) wave field, at the boundary of such a ULF wave field, or in a few cases isolated from the wave field. We present statistics on several properties of the SLAMS, such as temporal scale size, amplitude, and the presence of whistler-like wave emissions. We find that SLAMS are mostly found during periods of low interplanetary magnetic field strength, indicating that they are more common for higher solar wind Alfv & eacute;nic Mach number ( M A ). We use the Tao solar wind model to estimate solar wind parameters to verify that M A is indeed larger during SLAMS observations than otherwise. Finally, we also investigate how SLAMS observations are related to foreshock geometry., QC 20240503

Magnetosheath jets represent localized enhancements in dynamic pressure observed within the magnetosheath. These energetic entities, carrying excess energy and momentum, can impact the magnetopause and disrupt the magnetosphere. Therefore, they play a vital role in coupling the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere. However, our understanding of the morphology and formation of these complex, transient events remains incomplete over two decades after their initial observation. Previous studies have relied on oversimplified assumptions, considering jets as elongated cylinders with dimensions ranging from $0.1\, R_{\rm E}$ to $5\, R_{\rm E}$ (Earth radii). In this study, we present simulation results obtained from Amitis, a high-performance hybrid-kinetic plasma framework (particle ions and fluid electrons) running in parallel on graphics processing units (GPUs) for fast and more environmentally friendly computation compared to CPU-based models. Considering realistic scales, we present the first global, three-dimensional (3D in both configuration and velocity spaces) hybrid-kinetic simulation results of the interaction between solar wind plasma and the Earth. Our high-resolution kinetic simulations reveal the 3D structure of magnetosheath jets, showing that jets are far from being simple cylinders. Instead, they exhibit intricate and highly interconnected structures with dynamic 3D characteristics. As they move through the magnetosheath, they wrinkle, fold, merge, and split in complex ways before a subset reaches the magnetopause., QC 20240716

Transient enhancements in the dynamic pressure, so-called magnetosheath jets or simply jets, are abundantly found in the magnetosheath. They travel from the bow shock through the magnetosheath towards the magnetopause. On their way through the magnetosheath, jets disturb the ambient plasma. Multiple studies already investigated their scale size perpendicular to their propagation direction, and almost exclusively in a statistical manner. In this paper, we use multi-point measurements from the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission to study the passage of a single jet. The method described here allows us to estimate the spatial distribution of the dynamic pressure within the jet. Furthermore, the size perpendicular to the propagation direction can be estimated for different cross sections. In the jet event investigated here, both the dynamic pressure and the perpendicular size increase along the propagation axis from the front part towards the center of the jet and decrease again towards the rear part, but neither monotonically nor symmetrically. We obtain a maximum diameter in the perpendicular direction of about 1 RE and a dynamic pressure of about 6 nPa at the jet center., QC 20240701

The solar wind gets thermalized and compressed when crossing a planetary bow shock, forming the magnetosheath. The angle between the upstream magnetic field and the shock normal vector separates the quasi-parallel from the quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath, significantly influencing the physical conditions in these regions. A reliable classification between both magnetosheath regions is of utmost importance since different phenomena and physical processes take place on each. The complexity of this classification is increased due to the origin and variability of the solar wind. Using measurements from the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms mission and OMNI data between 2008 and 2023, we demonstrate the importance of magnetosheath classification across various solar wind plasma origins. We focus on investigating the ion energy fluxes in the high-energy range for each solar wind type, which typically serves as an indicator for foreshock activity and thus separating the quasi-parallel from quasi-perpendicular magnetosheath. Dividing the data set into different regimes reveals that fast solar wind plasma originating from coronal holes causes exceptionally high-energy ion fluxes even in the quasi-perpendicular environment. This stands in stark contrast to all other solar wind types, highlighting that magnetosheath classification is inherently biased if not all types of solar wind are considered in the classification. Combining knowledge of solar wind origins and structures with shock and magnetosheath research thus contributes to an improved magnetosheath characterization. This is particularly valuable in big-data machine-learning applications within heliophysics, which requires clean and verified data sets for optimal performance., QC 20240405

Shocklets and short large-amplitude magnetic structures (SLAMS) are steepened magnetic fluctuations commonly found in Earth's upstream foreshock. Here we present Venus Express observations from the 26th of February 2009 establishing their existence in the steady-state foreshock of Venus, building on a past study which found SLAMS during a substantial disturbance of the induced magnetosphere. The Venusian structures were comparable to those reported near Earth. The 2 Shocklets had magnetic compression ratios of 1.23 and 1.34 with linear polarization in the spacecraft frame. The 3 SLAMS had ratios between 3.22 and 4.03, two of which with elliptical polarization in the spacecraft frame. Statistical analysis suggests SLAMS coincide with unusually high solar wind Alfvén mach-number at Venus (12.5, this event). Thus, while we establish Shocklets and SLAMS can form in the stable Venusian foreshock, they may be rarer than at Earth. We estimate a lower limit of their occurrence rate of ≳14%., QC 20231020

We use the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to observe a bi-directional electron acceleration event in the electron foreshock upstream of Earth's quasi-perpendicular collisionless bow shock. The acceleration region is associated with a decrease in wave activity, inconsistent with common electron acceleration mechanisms such as Diffusive Shock Acceleration and Stochastic Shock Drift Acceleration. We propose a two-step acceleration process where an electron field-aligned beam acts as a seed population further accelerated by a shrinking magnetic bottle process, with the shock acting as the magnetic mirror(s)., QC 20230824

Context. Magnetic holes are ubiquitous structures in the solar wind and in planetary magnetosheaths. They consist of a strong depression of the magnetic field strength, most likely in pressure balance through increased plasma pressure, which is convected with the plasma flow. These structures are created through a plasma temperature anisotropy, where the perpendicular temperature (with respect to the magnetic field) is greater than the parallel temperature. The occurrence rate of these magnetic holes between Earth and Mercury can give us information about how the solar wind conditions develop on their way from the Sun to the outer Solar System. They also give information about basic plasma processes such as diffusion of magnetic structures.Aims. In this study we investigate the occurrence, size, and depth of magnetic holes during the cruise phase of BepiColombo and compare them with earlier studies.Methods. The BepiColombo magnetometer data were used to find the magnetic holes. We determined the size in seconds, the depth with respect to the background field, and the rotation angle of the background field across the structure. Minimum variance analysis delivers the polarization state of the magnetic holes. A direct comparison is made to the results obtained from the MESSENGER cruise phase.Results. We find an almost constant occurrence rate for magnetic holes between Mercury and Earth. The size of the holes is determined by the plasma conditions at the location where they are created and they grow in size, due to diffusion, as they move outwards in the Solar System. The greater the rotation of the background magnetic field across the structure, the larger the minimum size of the magnetic hole is., QC 20230922

We present the first statistical study on the velocity of magnetic holes (MHs) in the solar wind. Magnetic holes are localized depressions of the magnetic field, often divided into two classes: rotational and linear MHs. We have conducted a timing analysis of observations of MHs from the Cluster mission in the first quarter of 2005. In total, 69 events were used; out of these, there were 40 linear and 29 rotational MHs, where the limit of magnetic field rotation was set to 50 degrees. The resulting median velocity was 7.4 +/- 45 and 25 +/- 42 km s(-1) for linear and rotational MHs, respectively. For both classes, around 70% of the events had a velocity in the solar wind frame that was lower than the Alfven velocity. Therefore, we conclude that within the observational uncertainties, both linear and rotational MHs are convected with the solar wind., QC 20230911

Context. Langmuir waves (electrostatic waves near the electron plasma frequency) are often observed in the solar wind and may play a role in the energy dissipation of electrons. The largest amplitude Langmuir waves are typically associated with type II and III solar radio bursts and planetary foreshocks. In addition, Langmuir waves not related to radio bursts occur in the solar wind, but their source is not well understood. Langmuir waves have been observed inside isolated magnetic holes, suggesting that magnetic holes play an important role in the generation of Langmuir waves.Aims. We provide the statistical distribution of Langmuir waves in the solar wind at different heliocentric distances. In particular, we investigate the relationship between magnetic holes and Langmuir waves. We identify possible source regions of Langmuir waves in the solar wind, other than radio bursts, by analyzing the local plasma conditions.Methods. We analyzed data from Solar Orbiter's Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) and Magnetometer (MAG) instruments. We used the triggered electric field snapshots and onboard statistical data (STAT) of the Time Domain Sampler (TDS) of RPW to identify Langmuir waves and investigate their properties. The plasma densities were derived from the spacecraft potential estimated by RPW. The MAG data were used to monitor the background magnetic field and detect magnetic holes, which are defined as regions with an isolated decrease in |B| of 50% or more compared to the background level. The statistical analysis was performed on data from 2020 to 2021, comprising heliocentric distances between 0.5 AU and 1 AU.Results. We show that 78% of the Langmuir waves in the solar wind not connected to radio bursts occur in regions of local magnetic field depletions, including the regions classified as isolated magnetic holes. We also show that the Langmuir waves occur more frequently inside magnetic holes than in any other region in the solar wind, which indicates that magnetic, QC 20230803

Magnetosheath jets are localized dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath. We make use of the high time resolution burst mode data of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission for an analysis of waves in plasmas associated with three magnetosheath jets. We find both electromagnetic and electrostatic waves over the frequency range from 0 to 4 kHz that can be probed by the instruments on board the MMS spacecraft. At high frequencies we find electrostatic solitary waves, electron acoustic waves, and whistler waves. Electron acoustic waves and whistler waves show the typical properties expected from theory assuming approximations of a homogeneous plasma and linearity. In addition, 0.2 Hz waves in the magnetic field, 1 Hz electromagnetic waves, and lower hybrid waves are observed. For these waves the approximation of a homogeneous plasma does not hold anymore and the observed waves show properties from several different basic wave modes. In addition, we investigate how the various types of waves are generated. We show evidence that, the 1 Hz waves are connected to gradients in the density and magnetic field. The whistler waves are generated by a butterfly-shaped pitch-angle distribution and the electron acoustic waves by a cold electron population. The lower hybrid waves are probably generated by currents at the boundary of the jets. As for the other waves we can only speculate about the generation mechanism due to limitations of the instruments. Studying waves in jets will help to address the microphysics in jets which can help to understand the evolution of jets better., QC 20230722

We investigate the magnetic forces (the magnetic pressure gradient force, the curvature force, and their sum the j x B-force) associated with earthward bursty bulk flows (BBFs) using Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data from five tail seasons (2017-2021). For the first time, the magnetic forces are inferred downtail of XGSM = -20 R-E and in the GSM XY and YZ planes. The results suggest that BBFs tend to be accelerated earthward by the magnetic pressure gradient force tailward of similar to 19 R-E and decelerated closer to that distance in the 2017-2018 data. The force magnitudes increase with distance. This is in accordance with earlier Cluster results. In the 2019-2021 data, the pressure gradient force magnitudes are generally smaller and no clear distance for the acceleration reversal can be determined. The curvature forces for both 2017-2018 and 2019-2021 BBFs indicate earthward acceleration independent of distance, consistent with the Cluster measurements. The sum, the j x B-force, suggests for the 2017-2018 BBFs earthward acceleration tailward of XGSM similar to 15 R-E and deceleration within that distance, also consistent with Cluster. In contrast, the 2019-2021 BBFs show general earthward acceleration by j x B independent of distance. In the GSM XY plane, the average (j x B)(xy) vectors are earthward, and in the premidnight and postmidnight dawnward for the 2017-2018 BBFs. For 2019-2021, the average (j x B)(xy) vectors have components toward the tail center. In the GSM YZ plane, the average (j x B)(yz) vectors are toward the neutral sheet., QC 20230626