Transmission of large-amplitude ULF waves through a quasi-parallel shock at Venus

Abstract

There exist large-amplitude ultralow frequency (ULF) waves in the upstream region of a quasi-parallel shock, which are excited due to the reflected ions by the shock. These waves are then brought back to the shock by the solar wind, and at last they coalesce and merge with the shock. In this paper, with the magnetic field measurements from Venus Express, for the first time we observe the transmission of large-amplitude ULF waves from the upstream region to the downstream under quasi-parallel shock conditions. These waves exist in both the upstream and downstream regions of the Venusian bow shock, which have the similar characteristics: their peak frequencies are 0.04-0.05 Hz in the spacecraft frame, their propagation angles do not change greatly, they have left-hand polarization with respect to the mean magnetic field in the spacecraft frame, and they also have a large compressibility. We conclude that they are magnetosonic waves. The generation mechanism of such waves at the Venusian bow shock is also discussed in the paper. Key Points We observe the transmission of ULF waves from upstream to downstream The waves have the similar characteristics in both the upstream and downstream They have a large compressibility we conclude that these are magnetosonic waves ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.