Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Aug 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005aipc..781..273c&link_type=abstract
THE PHYSICS OF COLLISIONLESS SHOCKS: 4th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Shock Waves, Solar Wind, Cosmic Ray Energy Spectra, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Space Vehicles, Space Research, Planetary Bow Shocks, Interplanetary Shocks, Particle Emission, Solar Wind, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components
Scientific paper
We examine the energy spectra obtained from the cosmic ray instrument on the Voyager 1 spacecraft during 2002/215 through 2005/60. We find that the energy spectra of protons below ~20 MeV often resemble two power laws with a relatively hard index at low energies and a softer index at higher energies. The point of intersection of the two power laws is ~3 MeV. Beginning in 2005, the low-energy index is typically -1.5, corresponding to a shock strength (compression ratio) of 2.5. We attribute these characteristics to a restricted region of the solar wind termination shock that is sporadically connected to the Voyager 1 spacecraft by the interplanetary magnetic field. The absence of significant spectral variability in 2005 suggests that Voyager 1 entered a region with minimal spatial gradients of the lowest energy ions.
Cummings Alan C.
Stone Edward C.
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