Journal article
Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au
Astrophysical journal. Letters, Vol.963(1), L6
03/01/2024
DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad2617
Abstract
The two Voyager spacecraft have been exploring the interstellar medium beyond the heliopause since 2012 (Voyager 1) and 2018 (Voyager 2). Electron plasma oscillations and a quasi-thermal noise line at the electron plasma frequency have enabled the determination of the electron density in this region, revealing a radial density gradient convolved with shocks and pressure fronts. Voyager 1 has a functioning wideband receiver that provides high-spectral-resolution observations allowing the detection of the quasi-thermal noise line and has now provided electron densities to 161.4 au. Since a pressure pulse observed in 2020 around day 146 at about 149 au, the density has remained relatively constant at 0.147 cm ^−3 based on the most recent observations from 2023, suggesting that Voyager 1 has reached a broad density peak and possibly a new regime.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au
- Creators
- W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Astrophysical journal. Letters, Vol.963(1), L6
- DOI
- 10.3847/2041-8213/ad2617
- ISSN
- 2041-8205
- eISSN
- 2041-8213
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100006196, name: NASA ∣ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, award: 1622510
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984560415702771
Metrics
8 Record Views