| 1. |
- Edberg, Niklas J. T., et al.
(författare)
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The Convective Electric Field Influence on the Cold Plasma and Diamagnetic Cavity of Comet 67P
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 158:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We studied the distribution of cold electrons (<1 eV) around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko with respect to the solar wind convective electric field direction. The cold plasma was measured by the Langmuir Probe instrument and the direction of the convective electric field conv = − × was determined from magnetic field () measurements inside the coma combined with an assumption of a purely radial solar wind velocity . We found that the cold plasma is twice as likely to be observed when the convective electric field at Rosetta's position is directed toward the nucleus (in the − convhemisphere) compared to when it is away from the nucleus (in the + conv hemisphere). Similarly, the diamagnetic cavity, in which previous studies have shown that cold plasma is always present, was also found to be observed twice as often when in the − conv hemisphere, linking its existence circumstantially to the presence of cold electrons. The results are consistent with hybrid and Hall magnetohydrodynamic simulations as well as measurements of the ion distribution around the diamagnetic cavity.
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| 2. |
- Goetz, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Solar Wind Protons in the Diamagnetic Cavity at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 128:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The plasma environment at a comet can be divided into different regions with distinct plasma characteristics. Two such regions are the solar wind ion cavity, which refers to the part of the outer coma that does not contain any solar wind ions anymore; and the diamagnetic cavity, which is the region of unmagnetized plasma in the innermost coma. From theory and previous observations, it was thought that under usual circumstances no solar wind ion should be observable near or inside of the diamagnetic cavity. For the first time, we report on five observations that show that protons near solar wind energies can also be found inside the diamagnetic cavity. We characterize these proton signatures, where and when they occur, and discuss possible mechanisms that could lead to protons penetrating the inner coma and traversing the diamagnetic cavity boundary. By understanding these observations, we hope to better understand the interaction region of the comet with the solar wind under nonstandard conditions. The protons detected inside the diamagnetic cavity have directions and energies consistent with protons of solar wind origin. The five events occur only at intermediate gas production rates and low cometocentric distances. Charge transfer reactions, high solar wind dynamic pressure and a neutral gas outburst can be ruled out as causes. We suggest that the anomalous appearance of protons in the diamagnetic cavity is due to a specific solar wind configuration where the solar wind velocity is parallel to the interplanetary magnetic field, thus inhibiting mass-loading and deflection.
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| 3. |
- Goetz, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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The plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2022
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Ingår i: Space Science Reviews. - : Springer. - 0038-6308 .- 1572-9672. ; 218:8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The environment of a comet is a fascinating and unique laboratory to study plasma processes and the formation of structures such as shocks and discontinuities from electron scales to ion scales and above. The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission collected data for more than two years, from the rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August 2014 until the final touch-down of the spacecraft end of September 2016. This escort phase spanned a large arc of the comet's orbit around the Sun, including its perihelion and corresponding to heliocentric distances between 3.8 AU and 1.24 AU. The length of the active mission together with this span in heliocentric and cometocentric distances make the Rosetta data set unique and much richer than sets obtained with previous cometary probes. Here, we review the results from the Rosetta mission that pertain to the plasma environment. We detail all known sources and losses of the plasma and typical processes within it. The findings from in-situ plasma measurements are complemented by remote observations of emissions from the plasma. Overviews of the methods and instruments used in the study are given as well as a short review of the Rosetta mission. The long duration of the Rosetta mission provides the opportunity to better understand how the importance of these processes changes depending on parameters like the outgassing rate and the solar wind conditions. We discuss how the shape and existence of large scale structures depend on these parameters and how the plasma within different regions of the plasma environment can be characterised. We end with a non-exhaustive list of still open questions, as well as suggestions on how to answer them in the future.
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| 4. |
- Goetz, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Warm protons at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko-implications for the infant bow shock
- 2021
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : European Geosciences Union (EGU). - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 39:3, s. 379-396
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The plasma around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko showed remarkable variability throughout the entire Rosetta mission. Plasma boundaries such as the diamagnetic cavity, solar wind ion cavity and infant bow shock separate regions with distinct plasma parameters from each other. Here, we focus on a particular feature in the plasma: warm, slow solar wind protons. We investigate this particular proton population further by focusing on the proton behaviour and surveying all of the Rosetta comet phase data. We find over 300 events where Rosetta transited from a region with fast, cold protons into a region with warm, slow protons. We investigate the properties of the plasma and magnetic field at this boundary and the location where it can be found. We find that the protons are preferentially detected at intermediate gas production rates with a slight trend towards larger cometocentric distances for higher gas production rates. The events can mostly be found in the positive convective electric field hemisphere. These results agree well with simulations of the infant bow shock (IBS), an asymmetric structure in the plasma environment previously detected on only 2 d during the comet phase. The properties of the plasma on both sides of this structure are harder to constrain, but there is a trend towards higher electron flux, lower magnetic field, higher magnetic field power spectral density and higher density in the region that contains the warm protons. This is in partial agreement with the previous IBS definitions; however, it also indicates that the plasma and this structure are highly non-stationary. For future research, Comet Interceptor, with its multi-point measurements, can help to disentangle the spatial and temporal effects and give more clarity on the influence of changing upstream conditions on the movement of boundaries in this unusual environment.
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| 5. |
- Gunell, Herbert, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of radial interplanetary magnetic fields on the inner coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko : Hybrid simulations of the plasma environment
- 2024
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 682
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The direction of the interplanetary magnetic field determines the nature of the interaction between a Solar System object and the solar wind. For comets, it affects the formation of both a bow shock and other plasma boundaries, as well as mass-loading. Around the nucleus of a comet, there is a diamagnetic cavity, where the magnetic field is negligible. Observations by the Rosetta spacecraft have shown that, most of the time, the diamagnetic cavity is located within a solar-wind ion cavity, which is devoid of solar wind ions. However, solar wind ions have been observed inside the diamagnetic cavity on several occasions. Understanding what determines whether or not the solar wind can reach the diamagnetic cavity also advances our understanding of cometsolar wind interaction in general.Aims. We aim to determine the influence of an interplanetary magnetic field directed radially out from the Sun that is, parallel to the solar wind velocity on the cometsolar wind interaction. In particular, we explore the possibility of solar wind protons entering the diamagnetic cavity under radial field conditions.Methods. We performed global hybrid simulations of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using the simulation code Amitis for two different interplanetary magnetic field configurations and compared the results to observations made by the Rosetta spacecraft.Results. We find that, when the magnetic field is parallel to the solar wind velocity, no bow shock forms and the solar wind ions are able to enter the diamagnetic cavity. A solar wind ion wake still forms further downstream in this case.Conclusions. The solar wind can enter the diamagnetic cavity if the interplanetary magnetic field is directed radially from the Sun, and this is in agreement with observations made by instruments on board the Rosetta spacecraft.
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| 6. |
- Gunell, Herbert, et al.
(författare)
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Ion acoustic waves near a comet nucleus : Rosetta observations at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2021
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 39:1, s. 53-68
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ion acoustic waves were observed between 15 and 30 km from the centre of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the Rosetta spacecraft during its close flyby on 28 March 2015. There are two electron populations: one cold at k(B)T(e) approximate to 0.2 eV and one warm at k(B)T(e) approximate to 2 eV. The ions are dominated by a cold (a few hundredths of electronvolt) distribution of water group ions with a bulk speed of (3-3.7) km s(-1). A warm k(B)T(e) approximate to 6 eV ion population, which also is present, has no influence on the ion acoustic waves due to its low density of only 0.25 % of the plasma density. Near closest approach the propagation direction was within 50 degrees from the direction of the bulk velocity. The waves, which in the plasma frame appear below the ion plasma frequency f(pi) approximate to 2 kHz, are Doppler-shifted to the spacecraft frame where they cover a frequency range up to approximately 4 kHz. The waves are detected in a region of space where the magnetic field is piled up and draped around the inner part of the ionised coma. Estimates of the current associated with the magnetic field gradient as observed by Rosetta are used as input to calculations of dispersion relations for current-driven ion acoustic waves, using kinetic theory. Agreement between theory and observations is obtained for electron and ion distributions with the properties described above. The wave power decreases over cometocentric distances from 24 to 30 km. The main difference between the plasma at closest approach and in the region where the waves are decaying is the absence of a significant current in the latter. Wave observations and theory combined supplement the particle measurements that are difficult at low energies and complicated by spacecraft charging.
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| 7. |
- Gunell, Herbert, et al.
(författare)
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Particle-in-cell modelling of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko : spatial structures of densities and electric fields
- 2023
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 674
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: Sufficiently far from the Sun, all comets go through a phase of low activity. Rosetta observations at large heliocentric distances of approximately 3 au showed that the plasma at a low-activity comet is affected by both steady state electric fields and low-frequency waves.Aims: Our goal is to provide a model for the electric fields in the inner coma at a low-activity comet and to simulate waves and field structures farther away from the nucleus.Methods: We compare analytical models for the convective, ambipolar, and polarisation electric fields to the results of an electrostatic particle-in-cell simulation of a scaled-down low-activity comet.Results: We find good agreement between the steady state field model and the simulation results close to the nucleus. At larger cometocentric distances, waves dominate the electric field. These waves are interpreted as the scaled-down electrostatic limit of the previously observed singing comet waves. The comet ion density is not spherically symmetric.Conclusions: Low-activity comets can be modelled using electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations of a scaled-down system. Outside the innermost part of the coma (r ≥ 40 km), the plasma is not spherically symmetric and the electric field is dominated by waves.
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| 8. |
- Gunell, Herbert, et al.
(författare)
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Polarisation of a small-scale cometary plasma environment : Particle-in-cell modelling of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 631
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: The plasma near the nucleus of a comet is subjected to an electric field to which a few different sources contribute: the convective electric field of the solar wind, the ambipolar electric field due to higher electron than ion speeds, and a polarisation field arising from the vastly different ion and electron trajectories.Aims: Our aim is to show how the ambipolar and polarisation electric fields arise and develop under the influence of space charge effects, and in doing so we paint a qualitative picture of the electric fields in the inner coma of a comet.Methods. We use an electrostatic particle-in-cell model to simulate a scaled-down comet, representing comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with parameters corresponding to a 3.0 AU heliocentric distance.Results: We find that an ambipolar electric field develops early in the simulation and that this is soon followed by the emergence of a polarisation electric field, manifesting itself as an anti-sunward component prevalent in the region surrounding the centre of the comet. As plasma is removed from the inner coma in the direction of the convectional electric field of the solar wind, a density maximum develops on the opposite side of the centre of the comet.Conclusions: The ambipolar and polarisation electric fields both have a significant influence on the motion of cometary ions. This demonstrates the importance of space charge effects in comet plasma physics.
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| 9. |
- Gunell, Herbert, et al.
(författare)
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The infant bow shock : a new frontier at a weak activity comet
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 619
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The bow shock is the first boundary the solar wind encounters as it approaches planets or comets. The Rosetta spacecraft was able to observe the formation of a bow shock by following comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko toward the Sun, through perihelion, and back outward again. The spacecraft crossed the newly formed bow shock several times during two periods a few months before and after perihelion; it observed an increase in magnetic field magnitude and oscillation amplitude, electron and proton heating at the shock, and the diminution of the solar wind further downstream. Rosetta observed a cometary bow shock in its infancy, a stage in its development not previously accessible to in situ measurements at comets and planets.
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| 10. |
- Hajra, Rajkumar, et al.
(författare)
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Cometary plasma response to interplanetary corotating interaction regions during 2016 June-September : a quantitative study by the Rosetta Plasma Consortium
- 2018
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 480:4, s. 4544-4556
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Four interplanetary corotating interaction regions (CIRs) were identified during 2016 June-September by the Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC) monitoring in situ the plasma environment of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) at heliocentric distances of similar to 3-3.8 au. The CIRs, formed in the interface region between low- and high-speed solar wind streams with speeds of similar to 320-400 km s(-1) and similar to 580-640 km s(-1), respectively, are characterized by relative increases in solar wind proton density by factors of similar to 13-29, in proton temperature by similar to 7-29, and in magnetic field by similar to 1-4 with respect to the pre-CIR values. The CIR boundaries are well defined with interplanetary discontinuities. Out of 10 discontinuities, four are determined to be forward waves and five are reverse waves, propagating at similar to 5-92 per cent of the magnetosonic speed at angles of similar to 20 degrees-87 degrees relative to ambient magnetic field. Only one is identified to be a quasi-parallel forward shock with magnetosonic Mach number of similar to 1.48 and shock normal angle of similar to 41 degrees. The cometary ionosphere response was monitored by Rosetta from cometocentric distances of similar to 4-30 km. A quiet time plasma density map was developed by considering dependences on cometary latitude, longitude, and cometocentric distance of Rosetta observations before and after each of the CIR intervals. The CIRs lead to plasma density enhancements of similar to 500-1000 per cent with respect to the quiet time reference level. Ionospheric modelling shows that increased ionization rate due to enhanced ionizing (>12-200 eV) electron impact is the prime cause of the large cometary plasma density enhancements during the CIRs. Plausible origin mechanisms of the cometary ionizing electron enhancements are discussed.
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| 11. |
- Hajra, Rajkumar, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic unmagnetized plasma in the diamagnetic cavity around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2018
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 475:3, s. 4140-4147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Rosetta orbiter witnessed several hundred diamagnetic cavity crossings (unmagnetized regions) around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its two year survey of the comet. The characteristics of the plasma environment inside these diamagnetic regions are studied using in situ measurements by the Rosetta Plasma Consortium instruments. Although the unmagnetized plasma density has been observed to exhibit little dynamics compared to the very dynamical magnetized cometary plasma, we detected several localized dynamic plasma structures inside those diamagnetic regions. These plasma structures are not related to the direct ionization of local cometary neutrals. The structures are found to be steepened, asymmetric plasma enhancements with typical rising-to-descending slope ratio of similar to 2.8 (+/- 1.9), skewness similar to 0.43 (+/- 0.36), mean duration of similar to 2.7 (+/- 0.9) min and relative density variation Delta N/N of similar to 0.5 (+/- 0.2), observed close to the electron exobase. Similar steepened plasma density enhancements were detected at the magnetized boundaries of the diamagnetic cavity as well as outside the diamagnetic region. The plausible scalelength and propagation direction of the structures are estimated from simple plasma dynamics considerations. It is suggested that they are large-scale unmagnetized plasma enhancements, transmitted from the very dynamical outer magnetized region to the inner magnetic field-free cavity region.
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| 12. |
- Jones, Geraint H., et al.
(författare)
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The Comet Interceptor Mission
- 2024
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Ingår i: Space Science Reviews. - : Springer Nature. - 0038-6308 .- 1572-9672. ; 220:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum Δ V capability of 600 ms − 1 . Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule.
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| 13. |
- Nilsson, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Average cometary ion flow pattern in the vicinity of comet 67P from moment data
- 2020
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 498:4, s. 5263-5272
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Average flow patterns of ions around comet 67P detected by the RPC-ICA instrument onboard Rosetta are presented both as a time series and as a spatial distribution of the average flow in the plane perpendicular to the comet - Sun direction (Y-Z plane in the coordinate systems used). Cometary ions in the energy range up to 60 eV flow radially away from the nucleus in the Y-Z plane, irrespective of the direction of the magnetic field, throughout the mission. These ions may however be strongly affected by the spacecraft potential, the uncertainty due to this is briefly discussed. Inside the solar wind ion cavity and in the periods just before and after, the cometary pick up ions moving antisunward are deflected against the inferred solar wind electric field direction. This is opposite to what is observed for lower levels of mass-loading. These pick up ions are behaving in a similar way to the solar wind ions and are deflected due to mass-loading. A spatial asymmetry can be seen in the observations of deflected pick up ions, with motion against the electric field primarily within a radius of 200 km of the nucleus and also in the negative electric field hemisphere. Cometary ions observed by RPC-ICA typically move in the antisunward direction throughout the mission. These are average patterns, full-resolution data show very much variability.
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| 14. |
- Nilsson, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Birth of a Magnetosphere
- 2021
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Ingår i: Magnetospheres in the Solar System. - : John Wiley & Sons. ; , s. 427-439, s. 427-439
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A magnetosphere may form around an object in a stellar wind either due to the intrinsic magnetic field of the object or stellar wind interaction with the ionosphere of the object. Comets represent the most variable magnetospheres in our solar system, and through the Rosetta mission we have had the chance to study the birth and evolution of a comet magnetosphere as the comet nucleus approached the Sun. We review the birth of the comet magnetosphere as observed at comet 67P Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the formation of plasma boundaries and how the solar wind–atmosphere interaction changes character as the cometary gas cloud and magnetosphere grow in size. Mass loading of the solar wind leads to an asymmetric deflection of the solar wind for low outgassing rates. With increasing activity a solar wind ion cavity forms. Intermittent shock‐like features were also observed. For intermediate outgassing rate a diamagnetic cavity is formed inside the solar wind ion cavity, thus well separated from the solar wind. The cometary plasma was typically very structured and variable. The region of the coma dense enough to have significant collisions forms a special region with different ion chemistry and plasma dynamics as compared to the outer collision‐free region.
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| 15. |
- Nilsson, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of the ion environment of comet 67P during the Rosetta mission as seen by RPC-ICA
- 2017
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469:Suppl_2, s. S252-S261
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rosetta has followed comet 67P from low activity at more than 3.6 au heliocentric distance to high activity at perihelion (1.24 au) and then out again. We provide a general overview of the evolution of the dynamic ion environment using data from the RPC-ICA ion spectrometer. We discuss where Rosetta was located within the evolving comet magnetosphere. For the initial observations, the solar wind permeated all of the coma. In 2015 mid-April, the solar wind started to disappear from the observation region, to re-appear again in 2015 December. Low-energy cometary ions were seen at first when Rosetta was about 100 km from the nucleus at 3.6 au, and soon after consistently throughout the mission except during the excursions to farther distances from the comet. The observed flux of low-energy ions was relatively constant due to Rosetta's orbit changing with comet activity. Accelerated cometary ions, moving mainly in the antisunward direction gradually became more common as comet activity increased. These accelerated cometary ions kept being observed also after the solar wind disappeared from the location of Rosetta, with somewhat higher fluxes further away from the nucleus. Around perihelion, when Rosetta was relatively deep within the comet magnetosphere, the fluxes of accelerated cometary ions decreased, as did their maximum energy. The disappearance of more energetic cometary ions at close distance during high activity is suggested to be due to a flow pattern where these ions flow around the obstacle of the denser coma or due to charge exchange losses.
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| 16. |
- Odelstad, Elias, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma density and magnetic field fluctuations in the ion gyro-frequency range near the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We report the detection of large-amplitude, quasi-harmonic density-fluctuations with associated magnetic field oscillations in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P. Typical frequencies are ~0.1 Hz, corresponding to ~10 times the water and <0.5 times the proton gyro-frequencies, respectively. Magnetic field oscillations are not always clearly observed in association to these density fluctuations, but when they are, they consistently have wave vectors perpendicular to the background magnetic field, with the principal axis of polarization close to field-aligned and with a ~90° phase lag w.r.t. the density fluctuations. The fluctuations are observed in association with asymmetric plasma and magnetic field enhancements previously found in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity, occurring predominantly on their descending slopes. We speculate that they are Ion Bernstein waves (IBWs) excited by the drift-cyclotron instability resulting from strong plasma inhomogeneities in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity.
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| 17. |
- Odelstad, Elias, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma density and magnetic field fluctuations in the ion gyro-frequency range near the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We report the detection of large-amplitude, quasi-harmonic density-fluctuations with associated magnetic field oscillations in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity of comet 67P. Typical frequencies are ~0.1 Hz, corresponding to ~10 times the water and <0.5 times the proton gyro-frequencies, respectively. Magnetic field oscillations are not always clearly observed in association to these density fluctuations, but when they are, they consistently have wave vectors perpendicular to the background magnetic field, with the principal axis of polarization close to field-aligned and with a ~90° phase lag w.r.t. the density fluctuations. The fluctuations are observed in association with asymmetric plasma and magnetic field enhancements previously found in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity, occurring predominantly on their descending slopes. We speculate that they are Ion Bernstein waves (IBWs) excited by the drift-cyclotron instability resulting from strong plasma inhomogeneities in the region surrounding the diamagnetic cavity.
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| 18. |
- Sánchez-Cano, Beatriz, et al.
(författare)
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Mars’ plasma system. Scientific potential of coordinated multipoint missions : "The next generation"
- 2022
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Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 54, s. 641-676
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this White Paper, submitted to ESA’s Voyage 2050 call, is to get a more holistic knowledge of the dynamics of the Martian plasma system, from its surface up to the undisturbed solar wind outside of the induced magnetosphere. This can only be achieved with coordinated multi-point observations with high temporal resolution as they have the scientific potential to track the whole dynamics of the system (from small to large scales), and they constitute the next generation of the exploration of Mars analogous to what happened at Earth a few decades ago. This White Paper discusses the key science questions that are still open at Mars and how they could be addressed with coordinated multipoint missions. The main science questions are: (i) How does solar wind driving impact the dynamics of the magnetosphere and ionosphere? (ii) What is the structure and nature of the tail of Mars’ magnetosphere at all scales? (iii) How does the lower atmosphere couple to the upper atmosphere? (iv) Why should we have a permanent in-situ Space Weather monitor at Mars? Each science question is devoted to a specific plasma region, and includes several specific scientific objectives to study in the coming decades. In addition, two mission concepts are also proposed based on coordinated multi-point science from a constellation of orbiting and ground-based platforms, which focus on understanding and solving the current science gaps.
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| 19. |
- Volwerk, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic field line draping at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the Rosetta dayside excursion
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 630
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: The Rosetta dayside excursion took place in September-October 2015 when comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/CG) was located at similar to 1.36 AU from the Sun after it had passed perihelion on 13 August 2015 at similar to 1.25 AU. At this time, the comet was near its most active period, and its interaction with the solar wind was expected to be at its most intense, with ion pickup and magnetic field line draping. The dayside excursion was planned to move through different regions that were expected upstream of the cometary nucleus, and to possibly detect the location of the bow shock.Aims: The goal of this study is to describe the dynamic field line draping that takes place around the comet and the plasma processes that are connected to this.Methods: The data from the full Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC) were used to investigate the interaction of solar wind and comet, starting from boxcar-averaged magnetic field data in order to suppress high-frequency noise in the data. Through calculating the cone and clock angle of the magnetic field, we determined the draping pattern of the magnetic field around the nucleus of the comet. Then we studied the particle data in relation to the variations that are observed in the magnetic field.Results: During the dayside excursion, the magnetic field cone angle changed several times, which means that the magnetic field direction changes from pointing sunward to anti-sunward. This is caused by the changing directions of the interplanetary magnetic field that is transported toward the comet. The cone-angle direction shows that mass-loading of the interplanetary magnetic field of the solar wind leads to dynamic draping. The ion velocity and the magnetic field strength are correlated because the unmagnetized ions are accelerated more (less) strongly by the increasing (decreasing) magnetic field strength. There is an indication of an anticorrelation between the electron density and the magnetic field strength, which might be caused by the magnetized electrons being mirrored out of the strong field regions. The Rosetta RPC has shown that (dynamic) draping also occurs as mildly active comets, as was found at highly active comets such as 1P/Halley and 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, but also that determining both dynamic and nested draping will require a combination of fast flybys and slow excursions for future missions.
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| 20. |
- Volwerk, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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On the magnetic characteristics of magnetic holes in the solar wind between Mercury and Venus
- 2020
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 38:1, s. 51-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The occurrence rate of linear and pseudo magnetic holes has been determined during MESSENGER's cruise phase starting from Venus (2007) and arriving at Mercury (2011). It is shown that the occurrence rate of linear magnetic holes, defined as a maximum of 10 degrees rotation of the magnetic field over the hole, slowly decreases from Mercury to Venus. The pseudo magnetic holes, defined as a rotation between 10 and 45 degrees over the hole, have mostly a constant occurrence rate.
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| 21. |
- Volwerk, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Statistical study of linear magnetic hole structures near Earth
- 2021
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 39:1, s. 239-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS1) data for 8 months in the winter periods of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, when MMS had its apogee in the upstream solar wind of the Earth's bow shock, are used to study linear magnetic holes (LMHs). These LMHs are characterized by a magnetic depression of more than 50 % and a rotation of the background magnetic field of less then 10 degrees. A total of 406 LMHs are found and, based on their magnetoplasma characteristics, are split into three categories: cold (increase in density, little change in ion temperature), hot (increase in ion temperature, decrease in density) and sign change (at least one magnetic field component changes sign). The occurrence rate of LMHs is 2.3 per day. All LMHs are basically in pressure balance with the ambient plasma. Most of the linear magnetic holes are found in ambient plasmas that are stable against the mirror-mode generation, but only half of the holes are mirror-mode-stable inside.
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| 22. |
- Wieser, Gabriella Stenberg, et al.
(författare)
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Investigating short-time-scale variations in cometary ions around comet 67P
- 2017
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S522-S534
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The highly varying plasma environment around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko inspired an upgrade of the ion mass spectrometer (Rosetta Plasma Consortium Ion Composition Analyzer) with new operation modes, to enable high time resolution measurements of cometary ions. Two modes were implemented, one having a 4 s time resolution in the energy range 0.3-82 eV/q and the other featuring a 1 s time resolution in the energy range 13-50 eV/q. Comparing measurements made with the two modes, it was concluded that 4 s time resolution is enough to capture most of the fast changes of the cometary ion environment. The 1462 h of observations done with the 4 s mode were divided into hour-long sequences. It is possible to sort 84 per cent of these sequences into one of five categories, depending on their appearance in an energy-time spectrogram. The ion environment is generally highly dynamic, and variations in ion fluxes and energies are seen on time-scales of 10 s to several minutes.
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