Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

P. Mostafavi; L. F. Burlaga; I. H. Cairns; S. A. Fuselier; F. Fraternale; D. A. Gurnett; T. K. Kim; W. S. Kurth; N. V. Pogorelov; E. Provornikova; J. D. Richardson; D. L. Turner; G. P. Zank

doi:10.1007/s11214-022-00893-4

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Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

Journal article

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Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

P. Mostafavi, L. F. Burlaga, I. H. Cairns, S. A. Fuselier, F. Fraternale, D. A. Gurnett, T. K. Kim, W. S. Kurth, N. V. Pogorelov, E. Provornikova, …

Space science reviews, Vol.218(4), pp.27-27

06/01/2022

DOI: 10.1007/s11214-022-00893-4

PMCID: PMC9085707

PMID: 35574274

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Abstract

Large-scale disturbances generated by the Sun’s dynamics first propagate through the heliosphere, influence the heliosphere’s outer boundaries, and then traverse and modify the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). The existence of shocks in the VLISM was initially suggested by Voyager observations of the 2-3 kHz radio emissions in the heliosphere. A couple of decades later, both Voyagers crossed the definitive edge of our heliosphere and became the first ever spacecraft to sample interstellar space. Since Voyager 1’s entrance into the VLISM, it sampled electron plasma oscillation events that indirectly measure the medium’s density, increasing as it moves further away from the heliopause. Some of the observed electron oscillation events in the VLISM were associated with the local heliospheric shock waves. The observed VLISM shocks were very different than heliospheric shocks. They were very weak and broad, and the usual dissipation via wave-particle interactions could not explain their structure. Estimates of the dissipation associated with the collisionality show that collisions can determine the VLISM shock structure. According to theory and models, the existence of a bow shock or wave in front of our heliosphere is still an open question as there are no direct observations yet. This paper reviews the outstanding observations recently made by the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft, and our current understanding of the properties of shocks/waves in the VLISM. We present some of the most exciting open questions related to the VLISM and shock waves that should be addressed in the future.

Heliosphere

Interstellar medium

Shock waves

Details

Title: Subtitle: Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium
Creators: P. Mostafavi - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
L. F. Burlaga - Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
I. H. Cairns - Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
S. A. Fuselier - P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, TX 78228 USA San Antonio, TX 78249 USA
F. Fraternale - Huntsville, AL 35805 USA
D. A. Gurnett - University of Iowa
T. K. Kim - Huntsville, AL 35805 USA
W. S. Kurth - Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
N. V. Pogorelov - Huntsville, AL 35805 USA Huntsville, AL 35805 USA
E. Provornikova - Laurel, MD 20723 USA
J. D. Richardson - Cambridge, MA USA Cambridge, MA USA
D. L. Turner - Laurel, MD 20723 USA
G. P. Zank - Huntsville, AL 35805 USA Huntsville, AL 35805 USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Space science reviews, Vol.218(4), pp.27-27
DOI: 10.1007/s11214-022-00893-4
PMID: 35574274
PMCID: PMC9085707
NLM abbreviation: Space Sci Rev
ISSN: 0038-6308
eISSN: 1572-9672
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Grant note: 1622510; 80NSSC19K0260; 80NSSC19K0260; 80NSSC18K1649; 80NSSC18K1649; 80NSSC18K1212; 80NSSC18K1212 / ;
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2022
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455280602771

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