Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates

Details Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates

Mar 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991p%26ss...39..479s&link_type=abstract

Planetary and Space Science (ISSN 0032-0633), vol. 39, March 1991, p. 479-506. DOE-sponsored research.

Computer Science

7

Comet Nuclei, Distribution Functions, Giacobini-Zinner Comet, Ion Distribution, Water Vapor, Cometary Atmospheres, Flux Density, Comets, Water, Ions, Giacobini-Zinner, Distribution, Parameters, Density, Energy, Spacecraft Observations, Epas Instrument, Ice Mission, Pickup, Distance, Comet Nuclei, Theoretical Studies, Mass Loading, Ionization, Energetic Particles, Upstream, Downstream, Comae, Flow, Equipment, Velocity, Diagrams, Comparisons, Calculations, Spectra, Plasma

Scientific paper

The bulk parameters (number density and thermal energy density) of cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner have been derived using data from the EPAS instrument on the ICE spacecraft. The derivation is based on the assumption that the pick-up ion distribution function is isotropic in the frame of the bulk flow, an approximation which has previously been shown to be reasonable within about 400,000 km of the comet nucleus along the spacecraft trajectory. The transition between the pick-up and mass-loaded regions occurs at the cometary shock, which was traversed at a cometocentric distance of about 100,000 km along the spacecraft track. Examination of the ion distribution functions in this region, transformed to the bulk flow frame, indicates the occurrence of a flattened distribution in the vicinity of the local pick-up speed, and a steeply falling tail at speeds above, which may be approximated as an exponential in ion speed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates 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 Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cometary water-group ions in the region surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner - Distribution functions and bulk parameter estimates will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-937481