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Spatial distribution of low-energy plasma around comet 67P/CG from Rosetta measurements

Authors :
Edberg, Niklas J. T.
Eriksson, Anders I.
Odelstad, Elias
Henri, P.
Lebreton, J. -P
Gasc, S.
Rubin, M.
André, Mats
Gill, Reine
Johansson, Erik P. G.
Johansson, Fredrik
Vigren, Erik
Wahlund, Jan-Erik
Carr, C. M.
Cupido, E.
Glassmeier, K. -H
Goldstein, R.
Koenders, C.
Mandt, K.
Nemeth, Z.
Nilsson, H.
Richter, I.
Wieser, G. Stenberg
Szego, K.
Volwerk, M.
Edberg, Niklas J. T.
Eriksson, Anders I.
Odelstad, Elias
Henri, P.
Lebreton, J. -P
Gasc, S.
Rubin, M.
André, Mats
Gill, Reine
Johansson, Erik P. G.
Johansson, Fredrik
Vigren, Erik
Wahlund, Jan-Erik
Carr, C. M.
Cupido, E.
Glassmeier, K. -H
Goldstein, R.
Koenders, C.
Mandt, K.
Nemeth, Z.
Nilsson, H.
Richter, I.
Wieser, G. Stenberg
Szego, K.
Volwerk, M.
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

We use measurements from the Rosetta plasma consortium Langmuir probe and mutual impedance probe to study the spatial distribution of low-energy plasma in the near-nucleus coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The spatial distribution is highly structured with the highest density in the summer hemisphere and above the region connecting the two main lobes of the comet, i.e., the neck region. There is a clear correlation with the neutral density and the plasma to neutral density ratio is found to be approximate to 1-210(-6), at a cometocentric distance of 10km and at 3.1AU from the Sun. A clear 6.2h modulation of the plasma is seen as the neck is exposed twice per rotation. The electron density of the collisionless plasma within 260km from the nucleus falls off with radial distance as approximate to 1/r. The spatial structure indicates that local ionization of neutral gas is the dominant source of low-energy plasma around the comet.<br />QC 20200818

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1235079607
Document Type :
Electronic Resource
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002.2015GL064233