Ion-electron energy partition in low Mach number magnetized collisionless shocks

Energy partition between ions and electrons in magnetized, collisionless shocks is an unresolved issue. 2-D kinetic simulations show that ions and electrons equilibrate on a time scale of a few ion gyro-times in low Mach number, magnetized, quasi-parallel, collisionless shocks. A multi-fluid model shows a resonance between electron whistler waves and ion magnetohydrodynamic waves that may be responsible for the energy transfer from drifting ions to thermal electrons.