A parametric study of the solar wind interaction with cometsThe Naval Research Laboratory's magnetohydrodynamic simulation code is used to simulate the solar wind interction with comet Halley for two different outgassing rates and several different solar wind states. The magnetic field is more strongly draped for fast solar wind conditions than slow. For higher mass loading rates, the tail becomes wider and contains more magnetic flux. The visual appearance of the comet differs for the case in which the interplanetary magnetic field lies in the plane of the sky from the case when it lies along the line of sight. The ion tail appears shorter in the latter case. Thus variation in the IMF direction can cause significant changes in the appearance of comets. The comet also creates a large momentum flux deficit in the solar wind with a narrow enhanced region within it corresponding to the ion tail.
Document ID
19920027384
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Russell, C. T. (California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Le, G. (California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Luhmann, J. G. (California, University Los Angeles, United States)
Fedder, J. A. (U.S. Navy, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, United States)