The Interaction of Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) with the Global Solar Corona: Insight and Perspectives from Realistic Thermodynamic MHD Simulations
Abstract
On December 15-16 2011 the perihelion passage of sun-grazing comet C-2011 W3 (Lovejoy) took it perilously close to the sun. Its voyage through the low solar corona was readily observed by the EUV imagers onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the STEREO spacecraft pair. During this time, EUV emission from the cometary tail underwent several significant changes in both intensity and overall inclination and shape, possibly an indication of rapidly changing ambient plasma or magnetic field conditions. To study this phenomenon, we employ a realistic 3D thermodynamic MHD model to obtain a self-consistent picture of the global thermodynamic and magnetic structure of the corona at this time. We use these simulations to examine the ambient plasma parameters along the trajectory and place them in the context of the multi-viewpoint observations, directly connecting the important influence of the global magnetic field structure to comet tail appearance and dynamics. By employing multiple simulations, we demonstrate how such a unique set of observations can be used to probe not only the comet-corona interaction, but also to constrain properties of the coronal plasma and magnetic field.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMSH13B2255D
- Keywords:
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- 7509 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY / Corona;
- 7524 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY / Magnetic fields;
- 6025 PLANETARY SCIENCES: COMETS AND SMALL BODIES / Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields