Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet

Details Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet

2008-12-05

arxiv.org/abs/0812.1189v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

26 pages, 11 figures, submitted to A&A

Scientific paper

We model the interaction of the solar wind with the plasma tail of a comet by means of numerical simulations, taking into account the effects of viscous-like forces.A 2D hydrodynamical, two species, finite difference code has been developed for the solution of the time dependent continuity, momentum and energy conservation equations, as applied to the problem at hand. Velocity, density and temperature profiles across the tail are obtained. Several cases with different flow parameters are considered in order to study the relative importance of viscous-like effects and the coupling between species on the flow dynamics. Assuming a Mach number equal to 2 for the incident solar wind as it flows past the comet nucleus, the flow exhibits three transitions with location and properties depending on the Reynolds number for each species and on the ratio of the timescale for inter-species coupling to the crossing time of the free flowing solar wind. By comparing our results with the measurements taken in situ by the Giotto spacecraft during its flyby of comet Halley we constrain the flow parameters for both plasmas. In the context of our approximations, we find that our model is qualitatively consistent with the in situ measurements as long as the Reynolds number of the solar wind protons and of cometary H2O+ ions is low, less than 100, suggesting that viscous-like momentum transport processes may play an important role in the interaction of the solar wind and the plasma environment of comets.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet 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 Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-366076