Implications of weak rippling of the shock ramp on the pattern of the electromagnetic field and ion distributions

Collisionless shocks undergo structural changes with the increase of Mach number. Observations and numerical simulations indicate development time-dependent rippling. It is not known at present what causes However, effects such rippling on field pattern ion motion distributions can be studied without precise knowledge detailed shape. shown that deviations normal component magnetic from constant value certain spatial dependence Deviations motional electric time dependence. argued whistler waves should propagate towards upstream downstream regions rippled ramp. fields follow pattern, while collisionless relaxation faster than in stationary planar case.