The comet Giacobini-Zinner magnetotail: Axial stresses and inferred near-nucleus properties

Conference · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6961235

McComas, D J; Gosling, J T; Bame, S J; Slavin, J A; Smith, E J; Steinberg, J L

Utilizing the electron and magnetic field data from the ICE tail traversal of Comet Giacobini-Zinner along with the MHD equations, we have developed a steady state, stress balance model of the cometary magnetotail. With it we infer many important but unmeasured ion properties within the G-Z magnetotail both at ICE and upstream at the average point along each streamline where cometary ions are picked-up. The derived tailward ion flow speed at ICE is quite constant at approx.-20 to -30 km/sec across the entire tail. The flow velocity, ion temperature, density, and ion source rates upstream from the lobes (current sheet) at the average pickup locations are approx.-75 km/sec (approx.-12), approx.4 x 10/sup 6/ K (approx.1 x 10/sup 5/), approx.20 /cm/sup 3/ (approx.400), and approx..15 /cm/sup 3//sec (approx.3.6). Gradients in the plasma properties between these two regions are quire strong. Implications of our inferred plasma properties for the near-nucleus region and for cometary magnetotail formation are examined. 9 refs., 1 fig.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA); Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon, 92 (France)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6961235
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-86-3942; CONF-8610207-4; ON: DE87003712
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMETS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
ION EMISSION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOTAIL
MECHANICS
PLASMA
STRESSES