Propagation speed, linear stability, and ion acceleration in radially imploding Hall-driven electron-magnetohydrodynamic shocks

TL;DR

This paper investigates how plasma density gradients influence magnetic shocks in electron-magnetohydrodynamics, revealing radial dependence in shock speed and potential for significant ion acceleration in cylindrical geometries.

Contribution

It extends previous slab models to cylindrical geometries, analytically and numerically demonstrating radial shock speed dependence and ion acceleration effects.

Findings

Radial dependence of shock propagation speed in cylindrical geometry

Potential for substantial ion acceleration in peaked shock structures

Analytical and numerical confirmation of new effects in EMHD shocks

Abstract

Plasma density gradients are known to drive magnetic shocks in electron-magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD). Previous slab modeling has been extended to cylindrical modeling of radially imploding shocks. The main new effect of the cylindrical geometry is found to be a radial dependence in the speed of shock propagation. This is shown here analytically and in numerical simulations. Ion acceleration by the magnetic shock is shown to possibly become substantial, especially in the peaked structures that develop in the shock because of electron inertia.