Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 1984
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984pazh...10..790g&link_type=abstract
(Pis'ma v Astronomicheskii Zhurnal, vol. 10, Oct. 1984, p. 790-796) Soviet Astronomy Letters (ISSN 0360-0327), vol. 10, Sept.-Oc
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
2
Comet Tails, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Solar Wind, Space Plasmas, Perturbation Theory, Phase Velocity, Solar Wind Velocity, Supersonic Flow
Scientific paper
The cause of the wavelike helical disturbances in cometary tails is investigated analytically. Since the flow is supersonic, the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability will produce a wave which propagates at a specific angle with respect to the wind velocity, guided by the relative orientation of the flow velocity vector and magnetic field vector. The tail plasma is modeled in terms of MHD equations for a perfect fluid. The instability growth rate of surface waves is calculated, along with an estimate of the ratio of solar wind/comet tail plasma densities, the latter reaching a value of about 0.005. The tail plasma is found to be compressible, while the solar wind is not. The wavelength of the fastest growing mode at the wind/tail interface is identified and in comparison with observational data on cometary tails confirms the supersonic wind instability as the controlling factor in the scale of the wave perturbations and the helical structure of the comet tail.
Gestrin S. G.
Kontorovich Victor M.
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