Updated Analysis of the Upwind Interplanetary Hydrogen Velocity as Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope during Solar Cycle 23

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Interplanetary Medium, Sun: Activity, Ultraviolet: Ism

Scientific paper

The interplanetary hydrogen (IPH), a population of neutrals that fill the space between planets inside the heliosphere, carries the signature of the interstellar medium (ISM) and the heliospheric interface. As the incoming ISM-ionized component deflects at the heliopause, charge exchange reactions decelerate the bulk motion of the neutrals that penetrate the heliosphere. Inside the heliosphere, the IPH bulk velocity is further affected by solar gravity, radiation pressure, and ionization processes, with the latter two processes dependent on solar activity. Solar cycle 23 provided the first partial temporal map of the IPH velocity, including measurements from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) spectrometers (Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS)) and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Solar Wind ANisotropies (SWAN) instrument. We present an updated analysis of IPH velocity measurements from GHRS and STIS and compare these results with those of SWAN and two different time-dependent models. Our reanalysis of STIS data reveals a significant change in IPH velocity relative to earlier reports, because of the contamination by geocoronal oxygen that was not accounted for. While current models of the heliospheric interface predict the observed IPH velocity for solar maximum, they are not consistent with data covering solar minimum. With updates to the HST data points, we now find that all data can be fit by the existing models to within 1σ, with the exception of SWAN observations taken at solar minimum (1997/1998). We conclude that the current data lack the temporal coverage and/or precision necessary to determine the detailed characteristics of the solar cycle dependence. Hence, new observations are merited.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Updated Analysis of the Upwind Interplanetary Hydrogen Velocity as Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope during Solar Cycle 23 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 Updated Analysis of the Upwind Interplanetary Hydrogen Velocity as Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope during Solar Cycle 23, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Updated Analysis of the Upwind Interplanetary Hydrogen Velocity as Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope during Solar Cycle 23 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1080040

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.