Charge Exchange Emission from Solar Wind Helium Ions

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

22

Atomic Data, Comets: General, Sun: Solar Wind, Ultraviolet: Solar System

Scientific paper

Charge exchange X-ray and far-ultraviolet (FUV) aurorae can provide detailed insight into the interaction between solar system plasmas. Using the two complementary experimental techniques of photon emission spectroscopy and translation energy spectroscopy, we have studied state-selective charge exchange in collisions between fully ionized helium and target gasses characteristic of cometary and planetary atmospheres (H2O, CO2, CO, and CH4). The experiments were performed at velocities typical for the solar wind (200-1500 km s-1). Data sets are produced that can be used for modeling the interaction of solar wind alpha particles with cometary and planetary atmospheres. These data sets are used to demonstrate the diagnostic potential of helium line emission. Existing Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp are analyzed in terms of solar wind and coma characteristics. The case of Hale-Bopp illustrates well the dependence of the helium line emission to the collision velocity. For Hale-Bopp, our model requires low velocities in the interaction zone. We interpret this as the effect of severe post-bow shock cooling in this extraordinary large comet.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Charge Exchange Emission from Solar Wind Helium Ions 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 Charge Exchange Emission from Solar Wind Helium Ions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Charge Exchange Emission from Solar Wind Helium Ions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1028806

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.