Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley

Details Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley

Jul 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987georl..14..673h&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 14, July 1987, p. 673-676.

Physics

23

Comet Nuclei, Cometary Atmospheres, Giotto Mission, Halley'S Comet, Magnetohydrodynamic Flow, Space Plasmas, Ionospheric Heating, Radial Flow, Comets, Halley, Plasma, Transport, Magnetic Fields, Comae, Atmosphere, Ions, Mass Loading, Friction, Neutral Particles, Spacecraft Observations, Giotto Mission, Flow, Boundaries, Energy, Gases, Temperature, Models, Distribution, Parameters, Calculations, Distance, Velocity, Heating, Production Rate, Flux Tubes, Hypotheses

Scientific paper

The dominant forces resisting the transport of magnetic field into the inner coma of a comet are ion mass loading from and friction with the expanding neutral atmosphere. A magnetic cavity is thereby created. Close to it the frictional force is most important. Careful interpretation of the magnetic field profile measured during the Giotto flyby of comet P/Halley reveals the existence of an inward directed component of plasma flow of a few km/s, which drops to zero at the boundary of the cavity. The energy transferred from the neutral gas to the plasma by friction and mass loading is responsible for the strongly elevated ion temperatures outside the magnetic cavity. Fitting of the observed magnetic profile and ion temperature distribution yields quantitative determinations of some crucial parameters of the coma.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley 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 Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma transport near the magnetic cavity surrounding comet Halley will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-790478