The Isotopic Composition of Iron in the Solar Wind: First Measurements with the MASS Sensor on the Wind Spacecraft
Abstract
The isotopic composition of iron in the solar wind has been measured for the first time with the MASS sensor on the Wind spacecraft. Measurements were made from 1994 December 22 to 1996 February 9 in the energy range 0.55-1.3 keV nucleon-1 (320-500 km s-1). We obtained the values 54Fe/56Fe = 8.5+0.5-2.2% and 57Fe/56Fe <= 5%. Previously, measurements were reported for meteoritic material (e.g., Anders & Grevesse 1989, 54Fe/56Fe = 6.3% and 57Fe/56Fe = 2.3%) and the origin of Galactic cosmic rays (e.g., Connell & Simpson 1995, 54Fe/56Fe = 8.9% +/- 0.8% and 57Fe/56Fe = 3.8% +/- 0.5%).
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1997
- DOI:
- 10.1086/310420
- Bibcode:
- 1997ApJ...474L..69O
- Keywords:
-
- SUN: SOLAR WIND;
- SUN: CORONA;
- SUN: PARTICLE EMISSION;
- Sun: Solar Wind;
- Sun: Corona;
- Sun: Particle Emission