Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere.

Details Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere. Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere.

Sep 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999jgr...104r9787w&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 104, No. A9, p. 19787 - 19795

Physics

Heliosphere: Shock Waves, Heliosphere: Protons, Solar Wind: Shock Waves

Scientific paper

The 1991 global merged interaction region (GMIR) shock was a strong forward shock observed from Voyager 2 on day 146 of 1991 at 34.6 AU at the leading edge of the 1991 GMIR. This shock is the strongest shock ever identified from the Voyager data in the distant heliosphere. The authors study the evolution and propagation of the 1991 GMIR shock outside 34.6 AU in the upwind direction taking into account the influence of interstellar pickup protons. The authors calculate the time, location, and various variables of this shock in the subsequent 400 days. The authors use the shock interaction model to develop a R,t-simulation code to study this problem. The model treats the shock as a surface of discontinuity with zero thickness and uses the method of characteristics to study the evolution of the solar wind in the disturbed region. This model can accurately calculate the propagation speed and the strength of the shock. The numerical solution shows that as the GMIR shock propagates from 35 AU to 150 AU, the shock speed decreases monotonically from 543 km/s to 478 km/s and the density ratio decreases from 2.55 to 2.09. The solar wind proton temperature and the pickup proton temperature on two sides of the shock decrease monotonically with increasing heliocentric distance. Across the shock the solar wind proton temperature ratio is high, namely, ≡22 at 35 AU and ≡11.5 at 150 AU, while the pickup proton temperature ratio is an order of magnitude smaller: ≡2.1 at 35 AU and ≡1.8 at 150 AU.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere. 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 Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evolution of a strong shock in the distant heliosphere. will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-987154