DRAPING OF THE INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD OVER THE HELIOPAUSE: A PASSIVE FIELD MODEL

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/805/2/153· OSTI ID:22522378

Isenberg, Philip A.; Forbes, Terry G.; Möbius, Eberhard ^[1]

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1. Space Science Center and Department of Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 (United States)

As the local interstellar plasma flows past our heliosphere, it is slowed and deflected around the magnetic obstacle of the heliopause. The interstellar magnetic field, frozen into this plasma, then becomes draped around the heliopause in a characteristic manner. We derive the analytical solution for this draped magnetic field in the limit of weak field intensity, assuming an ideal potential flow around the heliopause, which we model as a Rankine half-body. We compare the structure of the model magnetic field with observed properties of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) ribbon and with in situ observations at the Voyager 1 spacecraft. We find reasonable qualitative agreement, given the idealizations of the model. This agreement lends support to the secondary ENA model of the IBEX ribbon and to the interpretation that Voyager 1 has crossed the heliopause. We also predict that the magnetic field measured by Voyager 2 after it crosses the heliopause will not be significantly rotated away from the direction of the undisturbed interstellar field.

• OSTI ID: 22522378
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 805; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
HELIOSPHERE
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
POTENTIAL FLOW
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES