Pickup ion dynamics at the structured quasi-perpendicular shock

The pickup ion dynamics and mechanism of reflection and acceleration at the structured quasi-perpendicular supercritical shock are studied. pickup ions in the shock is studied analytically and numerically using the test particle analysis in the model shock front. The analysis shows I that slow pickup ions may be accelerated at the shock to high energies. The maximum ion energy is' determine by the fine structure of the electromagnetic shock ramp and decreases when the angle tween the magnetic field and the shock normal decreases. Evolution of pickup ion distribution across the nearly perpendicular shock and pickup ion spectrum is also studied by direct numerical analysis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.