Energetic heavy ions observed near Comet Giacobini-Zinner

Physics

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Cometary Atmospheres, Cosmochemistry, Giacobini-Zinner Comet, Heavy Ions, Chemical Composition, Coma, Comet Nuclei, Spatial Distribution

Scientific paper

Observations obtained using an ultralow-energy charge analyzer as it flew past Comet Giacobini-Zinner on September 11, 1985 are discussed. It is found that the bulk speed of the cometary ions is close to the solar wind speed, and that it closely follows changes in that speed, especially in the mass-loaded region. In this region, the pickup ion spectrum continuously softens as the distance to the comet decreases. In the solar wind pickup region, the ion distribution function is consistent with predictions of a second-order Fermi acceleration mechanism by Ip and Axford (1986). It is found that the decline of ion intensity in the spacecraft frame near closest approach is due to the deceleration of the solar wind, while the distribution function of the ions remains constant in their rest frame.

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