A solar-wind 'trigger' for the outer heliosphere radio emissions and the distance to the terminal shock

The solar wind data from the plasma science experiment on the Voyager spacecraft are examined to search for the source of the 2 to 3 kHz radio noise detected in the outer heliosphere. It is found that two anomalous high speed streams passed Voyager 2 before the noise was initially observed. It is suggested that the interaction of these streams with the terminal shock is responsible for the more intense emission. Using a time-of-flight argument, the distance to the shock is estimated at about 70 AU-140 AU. The larger value is consistent with an estimate using Voyager data and a standard pressure-balance argument.