Coronal and Interplanetary Shocks

Gottfried Mann, Leibniz-Instititut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)

Shock waves play an important role in astrophysics, since they are regarded as the source of energetic particles in space. Nowhere as in the corona and interplanetary space shocks can be studied in such detail by remote sensing observations and/or in-situ measurements. In the solar and interplanetary radio radiation, shock waves can be observed as so-called type II radio bursts. That indicates that shocks are able to accelerate electrons to high energies, so that they can generate Langmuir waves which convert into escaping radio waves. In the corona, shock waves are generated either by the pressure pulse due to the flare and/or driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A CME travelling through the corona and interplanetary space can establish multiple shocks at the nose and/or flanks of itself. These shocks are also considered as the source of solar energetic particles (i.e. electrons and ions). Both observational and theoretical results are presented to confront both with the aim to get a better understanding under which conditions shock waves are able to accelerate particles in space efficiently.