Electron-impact ionization of interstellar hydrogen and helium at interplanetary shocks
Journal Article
·
· Geophysical Research Letters
- Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
The authors investigate the ionization of interstellar hydrogen and helium due to electron impact by shock-heated electrons. Taking the electron distributions measured at four interplanetary shocks at 1 AU, they show that the electrons in the downstream region of strong shocks can ionize interstellar atoms at rates matching or exceeding the nominal photoionization or charge-exchange rates. They suggest that this process may explain some puzzling observations of interstellar pickup ions made by the Ulysses spacecraft. 17 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 159780
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 22, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: 15 Apr 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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