The creation of ionized tail rays in comets

Details The creation of ionized tail rays in comets The creation of ionized tail rays in comets

Sep 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986p%26ss...34..819b&link_type=abstract

Planetary and Space Science (ISSN 0032-0633), vol. 34, Sept. 1986, p. 819-823.

Computer Science

Comet Tails, Ionization, Ionized Gases, Bow Waves, Carbon Monoxide, Hot Electrons, Nitrogen, Particle Acceleration

Scientific paper

Energetic electrons at a bow shock surface profusely ionize easily ionizable cometary molecules. They then accelerate them along interplanetary magnetic field lines to the highly anisotropic velocity distributions the cometary ions are observed to have. The density of ionizable molecules (CO, N2 in particular) is critical. The electrons escape along the field lines unless enough heavy ions are produced to electrostatically trap the electrons and enable them to complete their ionization up to 300 ions cm-3. The ambipolar diffusion of the electrons along the field lines accelerates the ions along the field lines up to energies of hundreds of electron volts. The energy of the ions perpendicular to the field lines remains only a few eV, at most, as is evident from the observed extreme narrowness of the rays.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The creation of ionized tail rays in comets 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 The creation of ionized tail rays in comets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The creation of ionized tail rays in comets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1657666