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Very High Mach Number Electrostatic Shocks in Collisionless Plasmas

G. Sorasio·M. Marti·R. Fonseca·L. O. Silva
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Abstract

The kinetic theory of collisionless electrostatic shocks resulting from the collision of plasma slabs with different temperatures and densities is presented. The theoretical results are confirmed by self-consistent particle-in-cell simulations, revealing the formation and stable propagation of electrostatic shocks with very high Mach numbers ($M \gg 10$), well above the predictions of the classical theories for electrostatic shocks.

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G. Sorasio, M. Marti, R. Fonseca, L. O. Silva. 2005-12-23. Very High Mach Number Electrostatic Shocks in Collisionless Plasmas. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.96.045005

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