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The heliospheric sector boundary as a distented magnetic cloudA magnetic cloud was detected both near Earth and by Pioneer 11 located 43 deg east of Earth at 4.8 AU. The magnetic field within the cloud rotated smoothly from toward to away polarity, marking sector boundary passage. Interpreted as a flux rope, the cloud had a vertical axis, implying that its cylindrical cross-section in the ecliptic plane was distended along the sector boundary by at least 43, forming an extensive occlusion in the heliospheric current sheet. At 1 AU the cloud had plasma signatures typical of a fast coronal mass ejection with low temperature and a leading shock. In contrast, at 4.8 AU, only the cloud signature remained. Its radial dimension was the same at both locations, consistent with little expansion beyond 1 AU. Energetic particle data at 4.8 AU show high fluxes preceding the cloud but not extending forward to the corotating shock that marked entry into the interaction region containing the cloud. The streaming direction was antisunward, consistent with possible acceleration in a low-beta region of field line draping around the cloud's western (upstream) end. The fluxes dropped upon entry into the cloud and became essentially isotropic one third of the way through it. On the basis of sector boundary characteristics published in the past, we suggest that distended clouds may be common heliospheric current sheet occlusions.
Document ID
19960021315
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Crooker, N. U.
(Carmel Research Center Santa Monica, CA United States)
Intriligator, D. S.
(Carmel Research Center Santa Monica, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: International Solar Wind 8 Conference
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
96N24711
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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