Conference proceeding
The local interstellar magnetic field direction from direction-finding measurements of heliospheric 2-3 kHz radio emissions
PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: VOYAGER OBSERVATIONS, THEORY, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, Vol.858, pp.129-134
AIP Conference Proceedings
01/01/2006
DOI: 10.1063/1.2359317
Abstract
Direction-finding measurements of heliospheric 2-3 kHz radio emissions with the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft have shown that the source of the emissions is distributed along a line in the sky that passes near the nose of the heliosphere. It is now accepted that the radio emissions are generated near the heliopause by the interaction of an outward propagating interplanetary shock that originates from the sun during periods of intense solar activity. In this paper we suggest that the source is localized to regions where the interstellar magnetic field is nearly perpendicular to the shock normal, i.e., B(.)n = 0. For a spherical shock and the expected draping of the interstellar magnetic field over the heliopause this condition allows us to determine the projected direction of the local interstellar magnetic field as viewed from the sun looking toward the nose of the heliosphere. In this view the magnetic field (or its negative) is aligned at an angle of 44 degrees +/- 5 degrees from the north ecliptic pole as measured clockwise looking toward the nose. By comparing the direction-finding measurements with computer simulations of the magnetic field draping it may also be possible to obtain information on the inclination angle of the magnetic field relative to the sun-nose line.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The local interstellar magnetic field direction from direction-finding measurements of heliospheric 2-3 kHz radio emissions
- Creators
- D. A. Gurnett - University of IowaW. S. Kurth - University of IowaI. H. Cairns - Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAJ. Mitchell - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- J Heerikhuisen (Editor)Vladimir Florinski (Editor)G P Zank (Editor)N V Pogorelov (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: VOYAGER OBSERVATIONS, THEORY, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, Vol.858, pp.129-134
- Publisher
- Amer Inst Physics
- Series
- AIP Conference Proceedings
- DOI
- 10.1063/1.2359317
- ISSN
- 0094-243X
- eISSN
- 1551-7616
- Number of pages
- 2
- Grant note
- Australian Research Council 1279980 / National Aeronautics and Space Administration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2006
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455270602771
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