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Ann. Geophys., 22, 2309-2313, 2004
www.ann-geophys.net/22/2309/2004/
© European Geosciences Union 2004
Cluster observations of structures at quasi-parallel bow shocks
E. A. Lucek1, T. S. Horbury1, A. Balogh1, I. Dandouras2, and H. Rème2
1Space and Atmospheric Physics, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, UK
2CESR, BP 4346, 31028 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
Abstract. Collisionless quasi-parallel shocks are thought to be composed of a patchwork
of short, large-amplitude magnetic structures (SLAMS) which act to thermalise
the plasma, giving rise to a spatially extended and time varying shock
transition. With the launch of Cluster, new observations of the
three-dimensional shape and size of shock structures are available. In this
paper we present SLAMS observations made when the Cluster tetrahedron scale
size was ~100km. The SLAMS magnetic field enhancement is typically well
correlated between spacecraft on this scale, although small differences are
observed. The statistical characteristics of these differences contain
information on the typical gradients of magnetic field changes within the
SLAM structure which, in the case studied here, occur on scales of 100-150km,
comparable with the upstream ion inertial length.
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