# CAREER: Transmission and Reflection of Low-frequency Turbulence through Shock Waves

> **NSF 01002728DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Alabama in Huntsville (AL) · $681,356

## Abstract

The interaction between turbulence and shocks is ubiquitous in heliophysics. Shocks are created in space plasmas when a supersonic flow interacts with an obstacle such as a coronal mass ejection (CME) or a planet. For example, interplanetary shocks are often driven by interplanetary CMEs propagating through the solar wind. The downstream region between the shock and the ejecta is commonly known as the sheath. Additionally, pairs of forward-reverse shocks can form at stream interaction regions (SIRs) due to the compressive interaction of fast and slow solar wind streams. These interplanetary shocks will interact with turbulent solar wind fluctuations. Another example is the Earth’s bow shock, which is created by the solar wind slowing down upon reaching the Earth’s magnetosphere. Strong turbulence is generated downstream of the bow shock, known as the magnetosheath. For the Earth’s bow shock, the upstream region is also affected by backstreaming particles, leading to a foreshock region where the fluctuation level is enhanced compared to the quiet solar wind. In both cases of interplanetary shocks and planetary bow shocks, the shocks interact with turbulent fluctuations in the solar wind. 

The complete problem of the interaction between low-frequency MHD wave modes and different shock geometries has not been systematically investigated. This project is to investigate this interaction; specifically, how upstream incident waves are transmitted and reflected upon interaction. T

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2442628
- **Awardee organization:** University of Alabama in Huntsville (AL)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HB6KNGVNJRU1
- **PI:** Lingling Zhao
- **Primary program:** 01002728DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $681,356
- **Funds obligated:** $377,230
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2442628

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2442628, CAREER: Transmission and Reflection of Low-frequency Turbulence through Shock Waves. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2442628. Licensed CC0.

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