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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Interplanetary Physics: MHD waves and turbulence
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies
  • Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields
  • Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Plasma and MHD instabilities

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 13, NO. 3, PP. 267-270, 1986
doi:10.1029/GL013i003p00267

Large amplitude, low frequency plasma fluctuations at comet Giacobini‐Zinner

J. T. Gosling

University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

J. R. Asbridge

University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

S. J. Bame

University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

M. F. Thomsen

University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

R. D. Zwickl

University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

Very large amplitude fluctuations in electron density, temperature, and flow velocity were a prominent aspect of the solar wind interaction with comet Giacobini‐Zinner during the ICE encounter in September 1985. These fluctuations were detected at a distance of at least 9 × 105 km and grew in amplitude as ICE approached the comet, peaking in amplitude 6 × 104 km from closest approach. A typical period associated with the fluctuations was ∼2 min, which corresponds to a scale length in the solar wind frame of ∼5 × 104 km. For the most part these fluctuations appear to be a product of one or more plasma instabilities associated with the solar wind pick up of cometary ions.

Received 21 January 1986; accepted 30 January 1986; .

Citation: Gosling, J. T., J. R. Asbridge, S. J. Bame, M. F. Thomsen, and R. D. Zwickl (1986), Large amplitude, low frequency plasma fluctuations at comet Giacobini‐Zinner, Geophys. Res. Lett., 13(3), 267–270, doi:10.1029/GL013i003p00267.

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