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Solar wind observations by Lyman alphaThe interaction between the solar wind and the local interstellar matter takes place at two distinct regions. The plasma component of the interstellar matter meets the solar wind at the heliospheric interface region and it is excluded from entering into the heliosphere. The neutral component consisting mainly of the hydrogen atoms flows through the whole heliosphere. It gets, however, partly ionized by charge exchange collisions with solar wind protons and energetic photons from the Sun. The neutral atom trajectories are also affected by the radiation pressure from the Sun. While the properties of the interface region are still too sparsely known to be useful for solar wind studies the neutral H distribution near the Sun has been used successfully for this purpose. Measuring Lyman alpha light scattered by neutral hydrogen atoms can serve as a remote sensing measurement of the solar wind's three-dimensional and temporal distribution. In this work we will particularly focus on the solar cycle effects on the neutral hydrogen distribution and how it affects the solar wind monitoring.
Document ID
19960021327
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kyroelae, E.
(Finnish Meteorological Inst. Helsinki, Finland)
Summanen, T.
(Finnish Meteorological Inst. Helsinki, Finland)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
96N24723
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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