Excitation of Low-frequency Waves in the Solar Wind by Newborn Interstellar Pickup Ions H+ and He+ as Seen by Voyager at 4.5 AU

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Instabilities, Ism: Abundances, Solar Wind, Waves

Scientific paper

We report the observation of a spectral enhancement in the magnetic field fluctuations measured by the MAG instrument on the Voyager 2 spacecraft during 4.5 hr on DOY 7, 1979 at a heliocentric radial position of 4.5 AU. This time period is contained within a solar wind rarefaction when the large-scale interplanetary magnetic field was nearly radial. The frequency range and polarization of the enhanced fluctuations are consistent with waves generated by newly ionized interstellar H+ and He+. We show sunward propagation of the waves via a cross-helicity analysis. We compare the observation with a theoretical model and find reasonable agreement given the model assumptions. This event is the first indication of pickup ion-generated waves seen at Voyager. It is also the first identification of pickup He+ waves by any spacecraft.

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