The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner

Details The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner

Apr 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986georl..13..393t&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 13, April 1986, p. 393-396. DOE-sponsored research.

Physics

19

Comet Tails, Giacobini-Zinner Comet, Solar Wind, Transition Layers, Electron Energy, Flyby Missions, Space Plasmas, Comets, Giacobini-Zinner, Solar Wind, Interaction, Ice Mission, Flow, Spacecraft Observations, Velocity, Electrons, Density, Temperature, Plasma, Parameters, Distribution, Bow Shock, Ions, Ionosheath, Models, Comparisons, Upstream, Plasma Electron Experiment

Scientific paper

An account is given of the electron density, temperature and flow speed measurements made during the encounter with Comet Giacobini-Zinner by the Los Alamos plasma electron experiment on the ICE spacecraft. Between about 70,000 and 120,000 km from the nucleus of the comet, ICE found a region in which the solar wind flow speed decreased and the temperature increased by factors of about two. This transition region was characterized by large fluctuations in the plasma parameters and by highly variable electron velocity distributions. Electron temperature and density variations through the transition region reveal that ICE never crossed a short-scalelength bow shock during the encounter, although the scalelength for the gross transition in plasma properties is not incompatible with a shock dominated by the length scales of cometary ions. However, many of the electron distributions in the transition region and sheath are similar to those seen behind weak collisionless shocks elsewhere in the heliosphere. A model of the comet/solar wind interaction is suggested in which a standing shock exists sunward of the ICE trajectory, but, due to large variations in the upstream conditions, it is highly variable and perhaps only intermittent along the flanks.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The comet/solar wind transition region at Giacobini-Zinner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1102366