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Electron distributions upstream of the Comet Halley bow shock - Evidence for adiabatic heatingThree-dimensional plasma electron (22 eV to 30 keV) observations upstream of Comet Halley bow shock, obtained by the RPA-1 COPERNIC (Reme Plasma Analyzer - Complete Positive Ion, Electron and Ram Negative Ion Measurements near Comet Halley) experiment on the Giotto spacecraft are reported. Besides electron distributions typical of the undisturbed solar wind and backstreaming electrons observed when the magnetic field line intersects the cometary bow shock, a new type of distribution, characterized by enhanced low energy (less than 100 eV) flux which peaks at 90-deg pitch angles is found. These are most prominent when the spacecraft is on field lines which pass close to but are not connected to the bow shock. The 90-deg pitch angle electrons appear to have been adiabatically heated by the increase in the magnetic field strength resulting from the compression of the upstream solar wind plasma by the cometary mass loading. A model calculation of this effect which agrees qualitatively with the observed 90-deg flux enhancements is presented.
Document ID
19920045458
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Larson, D. E.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Anderson, K. A.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Lin, R. P.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Carlson, C. W.
(California, University Berkeley, United States)
Reme, H.
(Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements Toulouse, France)
Glassmeier, K. H.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Neubauer, F. M.
(Koeln, Universitaet Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 97
Issue: A3 M
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
92A28082
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1795
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1298
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-50271
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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