Low-frequency electromagnetic plasma waves at comet P/Grigg-Skjellerup: Overview and spectral characteristics

Details Low-frequency electromagnetic plasma waves at comet P/Grigg-Skjellerup: Overview and spectral characteristics Low-frequency electromagnetic plasma waves at comet P/Grigg-Skjellerup: Overview and spectral characteristics

Dec 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993jgr....9820921g&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 98, no. A12, p. 20,921-20,935

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

35

Electromagnetic Radiation, Grigg-Skjellerup Comet, Low Frequencies, Plasma Interactions, Plasma Waves, Solar Wind, Spectral Signatures, Spectrum Analysis, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Giotto Mission, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Ions, Magnetohydrodynamic Flow, Magnetosheath, Spaceborne Astronomy, Water

Scientific paper

Large-amplitude electromagnetic plasma waves are one of the dominant features of the solar wind-comet interaction. Wave characteristics strongly depend on parameters such as the solar wind flow and Alfven velocities and the angle between flow and interplanetary magnetic field as well as the production rate. With respect to the latter the flyby of the spacecraft Giotto at comet P/Griff-Skjellerup provides a unique possibility to study such waves in further detail. Pickup ion-related wave signatures have been observed up to a distance of 600,000 km from the nucleus. Peak spectral power in the spacecraft frame of reference occurs at frequencies mainly somewhat below the water group ion gyrofrequency. From this the waves are determined to be mainly left-hand polarized waves, causing one-sided pitch angle diffusion outbound. The wave activity strongly increases close to the comet; upstream it exhibits a quadratic dependence on the water group pickup ion free energy. Furthermore, a phenomenological study of the wave characteristics provides a unique description of the fine-structure of the interaction region. Indications of steepened magnetosonic waves have been found in the outbound magnetosheath region.

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