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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
Within the range in which both electric field parameters are free, ionizing shock waves have a unique structure for each pair of chosen parameter values. In a relatively small shock speed range, however, conditions may exist for which at least one intermediate equilibrium region is imbedded within the overall transition. Non-unique structures consisting of different transitions between the same upstream and downstream equilibrium states may then occur. Steady trans-Alfvénic magnetohydrodynamic transitions (which are unacceptable in the pre-ionized case) may occur as part of an ionizing shock structure, because neigh bouring steady solutions always exist. This is due to the existence of skew ionizing shocks which are able to absorb rotational disturbances.