The composition and dynamics of cometary ions in the outer coma of Halley
Abstract
During its flyby at comet Halley, the GIOTTO spacecraft encountered high densities of cometary ions inside approximately 200,000 km from the nucleus. Their properties changed drastically as the comet was approached. The authors present density profiles of solar wind alpha particles and of the major cometary ions as obtained by the IMS-HERS sensor between 340,000 km and 60,000 km from the nucleus. Typical mass spectra at various distances are presented and angular and velocity distributions of the cometary ions are discussed.
- Publication:
-
ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet
- Pub Date:
- December 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986ESASP.250a..99B
- Keywords:
-
- Cometary Atmospheres;
- Halley'S Comet;
- Ion Density (Concentration);
- Plasma Composition;
- Plasma Diagnostics;
- Space Plasmas;
- Alpha Particles;
- Angular Distribution;
- Comet Nuclei;
- Mass Spectroscopy;
- Plasma Chemistry;
- Solar Wind;
- Velocity Distribution;
- Astrophysics;
- COMETARY ATMOSPHERES;
- HALLEY'S COMET;
- ION DENSITY (CONCENTRATION);
- PLASMA COMPOSITION;
- PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS;
- SPACE PLASMAS;
- ALPHA PARTICLES;
- ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION;
- COMET NUCLEI;
- MASS SPECTROSCOPY;
- PLASMA CHEMISTRY;
- SOLAR WIND;
- VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION