Some data about near-earth shock wave structure, obtained by measuring alpha-particles at ''Prognoz'' satellite

Separate measurements of protons and α-particles on a high-apogee ''Prognoz'' satellite with the aid of a RIP-803 energy-mass analyzer were made to calculate the potential jump of the electric field at the near-earth shock-wave front. In case of large Mach numbers, which show in experiments, the magnitude of the potential barrier is equal to approximately half the loss of proton kinetic energy during transition across the front. The velocity-temperature ratio, obtained for different kinds of ions from the quasi-linear theory of instability of poroton two-flow motion in the wave front, gives a most satisfactory description of the behaviour of the measured magnitudes. The conclusion is made that dissipation in the wave front is caused by the development of the abovementioned instability