Hot ions observed by the Giotto ion mass spectrometer inside the Comet Halley contact surface
Abstract
Just inside the contact surface (approx. 4700 km) the High Energy Range Spectrometer (HERS) sensor of the Giotto ion mass spectrometer detected a sudden, intense burst of ions that lasted until the HERS sensor ceased transmitting data at a distance 3000 km from comet Halley. During this interval ions with M/Q=1, 2, 12, 14, 16, 19, 24 and 28 were observed. The heavier ions appear in two populations (in the S/C frame): a very low energy, almost omnidirectional distribution, and a more energetic (approx. < ram speed) population coming from the ram direction. The low energy ions may belong to the natural Halley environment or be generated at the spacecraft by dust and gas bombardment. The ions may also be related to spacecraft charging processes on Giotto.
- Publication:
-
ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet
- Pub Date:
- December 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986ESASP.250a.207G
- Keywords:
-
- Comet Nuclei;
- Halley'S Comet;
- Ion Probes;
- Mass Spectrometers;
- Velocity Distribution;
- Giotto Mission;
- Heavy Ions;
- Ion Distribution;
- Ion Sources;
- Solar Wind;
- Spacecraft Charging;
- Astrophysics;
- COMET NUCLEI;
- HALLEY'S COMET;
- ION PROBES;
- MASS SPECTROMETERS;
- VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION;
- GIOTTO MISSION;
- HEAVY IONS;
- ION DISTRIBUTION;
- ION SOURCES;
- SOLAR WIND;
- SPACECRAFT CHARGING