Computer Science – Numerical Analysis
Scientific paper
Nov 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994p%26ss...42..939i&link_type=abstract
Planetary and Space Science (ISSN 0032-0633), vol. 42, no. 11, p. 939-945
Computer Science
Numerical Analysis
1
Astronomical Models, Comets, Magnetic Field Configurations, Magnetohydrodynamic Flow, Plasma Jets, Rotating Plasmas, Stability, Vortices, Comet Tails, Giotto Mission, Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability, Numerical Analysis, Plasma Acceleration
Scientific paper
The mechanism of comet ray origin associated with the instability-driven vortices is suggested. According to our scenario, the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is generated in the magnetic barrier in front of a comet owing to the velocity shear. Nonlinear evolution of this instability was shown in our previous paper to result in a formation of large-scale vortices. An analytical solution of the nonlinear problem of magnetic flux generation (i.e. the magnetic field `twisting') due to the plasma vorticity is found assuming cylindrical symmetry. The plasma jet formed in the twisted magnetic field and accelerated owing to the pressure gradient is visualized as a cometary ray. Comparison with the results of the Giotto mission to comet Halley shows that rays seem to be generated near the maximum of the magnetic barrier. The characteristic thickness of tail rays of the order of 103 km is also explained.
Ershkovich A. I.
Ioffe Z. M.
Israelevich Peter L.
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