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Observations of the Magnetic Field and Plasma in the Heliosheath by Voyager 2 from 2007.7 to 2009.4The density and temperature profiles of the plasma measured by Voyager 2 (V2) behind the termination shock changed abruptly near 2008.6 from relatively large average values and large fluctuations during 2007.7 to 2008.6 (interval A) to relatively low average values and very small-amplitude fluctuations during 2008.6 to 2009.4 (interval B). This paper shows that the change in the magnetic field strength B(t) was less abrupt than the plasma changes, and the fluctuations of the magnetic field strength in interval B were of moderate amplitude, with indications of a quasiperiodic structure in part of the interval. The magnetic field was directed away from the sun (positive polarity) approx. 78% +/- 5% of the time in both interval A and interval B, changing in an irregular way from positive to negative polarities throughout the interval. The polarity distribution indicates that the minimum latitudinal extent of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) was near V2 throughout the interval, consistent with the extrapolated minimum latitudes of the HCS computed from solar magnetic field observations. Thus, V2 was observing magnetic fields from the southern polar coronal hole most of the time. The distribution of B was lognormal in interval A and Gaussian interval B.
Document ID
20110011008
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Burlaga, L. F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Ness, N. F.
(Catholic Univ. of America Washington, DC, United States)
Wang, Y.-M.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Sheeley, N. R., Jr.
(Naval Research Lab. Washington, DC, United States)
Richardson, J. D.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 115
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX06AG99G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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