INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD SURROUNDING THE HELIOPAUSE

Journal Article · Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/710/2/936· OSTI ID:21394465

Whang, Y. C., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]

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1. Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064 (United States)

This paper presents a three-dimensional analytical solution, in the limit of very low plasma beta-ratio, for the distortion of the interstellar magnetic field surrounding the heliopause. The solution is obtained using a line dipole method that is the integration of point dipole along a semi-infinite line; it represents the magnetic field caused by the presence of the heliopause. The solution allows the variation of the undisturbed magnetic field at any inclination angle. The heliosphere is considered as having blunt-nosed geometry on the upwind side and it asymptotically approaches a cylindrical geometry having an open exit for the continuous outflow of the solar wind on the downwind side. The heliopause is treated as a magnetohydrodynamic tangential discontinuity; the interstellar magnetic field lines at the boundary are tangential to the heliopause. The interstellar magnetic field is substantially distorted due to the presence of the heliopause. The solution shows the draping of the field lines around the heliopause. The magnetic field strength varies substantially near the surface of the heliopause. The effect on the magnetic field due to the presence of the heliopause penetrates very deep into the interstellar space; the depth of penetration is of the same order of magnitude as the scale length of the heliosphere.

• OSTI ID: 21394465
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 710, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/710/2/936; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
DIPOLES
GEOMETRY
HELIOSPHERE
INCLINATION
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
SOLAR WIND
ATMOSPHERES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
MATHEMATICS
MULTIPOLES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
SPACE
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR WINDS