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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Interplanetary Physics: Planetary bow shocks
  • Interplanetary Physics: Plasma waves and turbulence
  • Ionosphere: Ionization mechanisms
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies

Abstract

The bow wave of comet Giacobini‐Zinner: Ice magnetic field observations

D. E. Jones

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University

E. J. Smith

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

J. A. Slavin

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

B. T. Tsurutani

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

G. L. Siscoe

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles

D. A. Mendis

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California at San Diego

Fitting of a Mach 2 shock surface to the ICE magnetic field data obtained near comet Giacobini‐Zinner has provided subsolar bow wave distances that infer neutral gas outflow rates comparable to previous measurements, and orientations of the bow wave symmetry axis that are consistent with the plasma measurements and motion of the comet relative to the solar wind. Mach values of 1.5‐2 and transition thicknesses of the order of 104 km are inferred when the field magnitude and variance data are compared. Cross spectra of the transverse field components in and near the bow wave exhibit a peak near 10−2 Hz, or near the cyclotron frequency of ions from the water group. However, the level of turbulence is not consistent with that observed for similar configurations at planetary bow shocks.

Received 22 January 1986; accepted 4 February 1986; .

Citation: Jones, D. E., E. J. Smith, J. A. Slavin, B. T. Tsurutani, G. L. Siscoe, and D. A. Mendis (1986), The bow wave of comet Giacobini‐Zinner: Ice magnetic field observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13(3), 243–246.

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