Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufmsh24a..07s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #SH24A-07
Physics
Plasma Physics
[2124] Interplanetary Physics / Heliopause And Solar Wind Termination, [2126] Interplanetary Physics / Heliosphere/Interstellar Medium Interactions, [2151] Interplanetary Physics / Neutral Particles, [7851] Space Plasma Physics / Shock Waves
Scientific paper
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) Mission observes a remarkable feature, the IBEX ribbon. This very narrow ~20° wide feature has energetic neutral atom (ENA) flux ~2-3 times the ENA flux that is globally distributed over other portions of the IBEX maps. Here, we separate ENA emissions in the ribbon from the globally distributed flux by applying a mask over the ribbon and regions where ENAs are produced from sources other than the heliosphere. We then solve for the globally distributed flux using two distinct methods: (1) an interpolation scheme and (2) a decomposition based on real-valued spherical harmonics. Our analysis shows that the energy spectrum and the spatial distribution of the ribbon are distinct from the surrounding globally distributed flux. The ribbon energy spectrum exhibits a knee between ~1 and 4 keV, and the angular distribution transverse to the ribbon is approximately independent of energy. In contrast, the globally distributed flux does not show a clear knee, and more closely conforms to a power-law over much of the sky. The slope of the power-law steepens from the nose to tail, suggesting a weaker termination shock toward the tail as compared to the nose. Both the slope in the energy distribution of the globally distributed flux and the knee in the energy distribution of the ribbon are ordered by latitude. Thus, we develop several methods to separate the ribbon from the globally distributed ENA flux in the maps observed by IBEX. Our analysis shows that the IBEX ribbon is distinct not only in its spatial distribution, but also its energy distribution, which suggests that the source plasma populations of the ribbon and globally distributed flux are produced via a distinct physical process.
Allegrini Frederic
Bzowski Maciej
Christian Eric R.
Crew Geoff B.
Dayeh M. A.
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