Physics
Scientific paper
Mar 1991
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991angeo...9..158c&link_type=abstract
(European Geophysical Society, Symposium on Acceleration and Heating Processes in Solar System Plasmas, Copenhagen, Denmark, Apr
Physics
9
Giacobini-Zinner Comet, Halley'S Comet, Ion Temperature, Space Plasmas, Particle Acceleration, Plasma-Particle Interactions, Solar Radiation, Solar Wind Velocity
Scientific paper
Before spacecraft encountered comets in 1985-1986, it was predicted that ion energization at comets would start with the ion pickup process, in which neutral atoms ionized by solar radiation interact with the solar wind to produce first a ring and subsequently, since the ring is unstable and causes plasma waves, a shell in velocity space. This process can cause ion energization up to a maximum of twice the solar wind speed in the neutrals' frame of reference. For the abundant water group ions produced by comets this corresponds to some tens of keV. Measurements of ions at comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley have shown evidence of both the pickup process and of unexpected particle acceleration to energies much higher than those available from pickup alone. Further energization beyond pickup energies must occur via additional acceleration processes, the theory for which was mostly developed subsequent to the observations. These processes are reviewed and the observed particle acceleration at comets is quantitatively compared with theory and simulation.
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