Drag-like effects on heliospheric neutrals due to elastic collisions with solar wind ions

It is shown that interactions of interstellar neutral helium atoms with solar wind ions via elastic collisions lead to non-negligible losses of both linear and angular particle momenta. This drag-like interaction with the solar wind plasma causes helium density increases in the helisophere compared...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 1985, Vol.142 (2), p.476-486
Main Authors: FAHR, H. J, NASS, H. U, RUCINSKI, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Interplanetary space
Solar system
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:It is shown that interactions of interstellar neutral helium atoms with solar wind ions via elastic collisions lead to non-negligible losses of both linear and angular particle momenta. This drag-like interaction with the solar wind plasma causes helium density increases in the helisophere compared with model densities derived with the conventional theory that considers drag-free motions of interstellar particles. The resulting density enhancements are particularly pronounced on the downwind side of the heliosphere, whereas on the upwind side the effect is small. The results obtained suggested that the interpretation of HeI-584 A resonance luminescence patterns of the cone region on the basis of conventional LISM theories gives rise to LISM helium temperatures that are at least 4000 K too high.
ISSN:0004-6361
1432-0746