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North-south asymmetry of the interplanetary magnetic helicityPrevious analyses of the north-south asymmetry of the interplanetary magnetic helicity have used the omnitape dataset and have shown that there exists a persistent and statistically significant asymmetry in the handedness of the magnetic fluctuations at 1 AU. This asymmetry is concentrated in fluctuations with spacecraft frame frequencies less than 10-5 Hz (periods greater than 30 hours) at 1 AU. Attempts to extend these analyses to include data collected in the outer heliosphere require that we consider spacecraft frame periods many times greater than 30 hours. This raises interesting questions regarding homogeneity and stationarity of the datasets at this scale and brings into question the possible breakdown of the computed correlation functions due to the sector structure of the solar wind. The likely geometry of magnetic fluctuations in the outer heliosphere provides yet another complication in the analysis. These issues will be discussed in detail and the latest results from our studies of the Voyager 1 & 2 and Pioneer 10 & 11 datasets will be presented. The analysis of Pioneer-Venus Orbiter observations will be shown as well. The potential asymmetry between the magnetic helicity of the two hemispheres has significant and measurable implications for cosmic ray propagation in the heliosphere and these implications will be reviewed in light of the new results.
Document ID
19960021457
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, Charles W.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Bieber, John W.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
96N24853
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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