Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath

Details Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsh11a1908o&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SH11A-1908

Physics

[2124] Interplanetary Physics / Heliopause And Solar Wind Termination, [2126] Interplanetary Physics / Heliosphere/Interstellar Medium Interactions, [2134] Interplanetary Physics / Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, [2164] Interplanetary Physics / Solar Wind Plasma

Scientific paper

The tilt between the solar rotation and magnetic axes creates a sector region. Recently, we argued that the magnetic field in the sector region in the heliosheath has reconnected (Opher et al. 2011) and is filled with magnetic structures disconnected from the sun, called "bubbles". Here we show, that the sector region affects the flows in the heliosheath such as to create a region where the flow abruptly turns and the radial flow is near zero or negative. We dub this the flow transition region (FTR). The FTR is formed due to several effects that we have explored. The sector region in the heliosheath defines two flows: the flow within the sector region (region 1) behaves like an un-magnetized flow while the flow outside the sector (region 2) is connected to the larger heliosphere through the laminar magnetic field. The region 1 flow is dominantly affected by the blunt heliopause ahead of it and is mostly radial. As the flow streamlines approach the heliopause they turn abruptly, creating the FTR.This region didn't exist in previous simulations with no sectors where the flows downstream of the termination shock turn almost immediately to the sides and to higher latitudes. The thickness of FTR varies and is thinner in the southern hemisphere. We estimate, based on a recent 3D MHD simulation (Opher et al. 2011) that at the Voyager 1 location the thickness of FTR is 10-12AU. The simulations accurately reproduce the Voyager 1 flows. Since 2010 Voyager 1 has been immersed in the FTR, based on the negligible flows detected (Krimigis et al. 2011). If no other temporal dependent effects change the overall structure of the heliosphere, Voyager 1 is expected to cross the heliopause in the next 3-5 years. The FTR is much narrower in the southern hemisphere and Voyager 2 is expected to enter that region in the next couple years.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath 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 Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flow Transition Region in the Heliosheath will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-876127