NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Steepened magnetosonic waves in the high beta plasma surrounding Comet Giacobini-ZinnerStudies of intense hydromagnetic waves at Giacobini-Zinner are extended to investigate the mode and direction of wave propagation. Simultaneous high-resolution measurements of electron density fluctuations demonstrate that long period waves propagate in the magnetosonic mode. Principal axis analyses of the long period waves and accompanying partial rotations show that the sum of the wave phase rotations is 360 deg, indicating that both are parts of the same wave oscillation. The time sequence of the steepened waveforms observed by ICE shows that the waves must propagate towards the Sun with Cph less than Vsw. Observations are consistent with wave generation by resonant ion ring or ion beam instability which predicts right-hand polarized waves propagating in the ion beam (solar) direction. The large amplitudes and small scale sizes of the cometary waves suggest that rapid pitch-angle scattering and energy transfer with energetic ions should occur. Since the waves are highly compressive, first-order Fermi acceleration is forecast.
Document ID
19870017368
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tsurutani, B. T.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Smith, E. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Thorne, R. M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Gosling, J. T.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Matsumoto, H.
(Kyoto Univ. Japan)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: ESA, Proceedings of the 20th ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet. Volume 3: Posters
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
87N26801
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available