Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Collisionless ion-electron energy exchange in magnetized shocks
Y Zhang1,2, P V Heuer1, H Wen1
1University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
Abstract:
Energy partition between ions and electrons in collisionless shocks has been a long-standing unsolved fundamental physical question. We show that kinetic simulations of moderate Alfvénic Mach number, magnetized, collisionless shocks reveal rapid, faster-than-Coulomb, energy exchange between ions and electrons when the plasma is sufficiently magnetized. Using kinetic and multifluid models with counter-streaming ions, we identify resonances between electron whistler and ion magnetohydrodynamic waves that account for this rapid energy exchange.
Related Concept Videos
Potential Due to a Magnetized Object
The vector...
Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Energy Associated With a Charge Distribution
Energy In A Magnetic Field
Take an ideal inductor with zero resistance. Although it's practically impossible, assume that the coil's resistance is so small that it is practically negligible. The loss of the field's energy to dissipate thermal energy (or heat) is thus...

