Predictions of the Solar Wind Interaction with Comet Wirtanen

Physics

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Scientific paper

In preparation for the radio science investigations (RSI) on the Rosetta-Mission, the cometary environment is simulated in order to estimate the effects on the carrier signal. Based on a thermal model of the nucleus, providing sublimation characteristics, and a 3D time dependent hydrodynamic simulation of the inner coma, we study the evolution of cometary plasma and its interaction with the solar wind, due to the variation of the heliocentric distance. We estimate the distances from the nucleus to the bow shock, the cometopause and the contact surface from MHD-Theory. The applicability of fluid-type theory will also be discussed. Water is expected to be the main constituent in the coma of Wirtanen inside 2.5 AU, therefore we consider only water group reactions. Since the solar activity is expected to be near solar maximum during the prime phase of the mission, we also study effects of parameter fluctuations in the solar wind. The solar opposition in July/August 2012 will be a special opportunity to study solar wind effects at Earth and Wirtanen.

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