Interstellar atom and pick-up ion fluxes along the ULYSSES flight-path.
Abstract
Neutral atom and pick-up ion flux computations using a hot model for hydrogen, helium, oxygen and neon along the trajectory of the Ulysses spacecraft, including predictions for the Extended Mission are reported and discussed. The feasibility of using absolute pick-up ion fluxes and pick-up ion flux ratios to derive the orientation of the heliospheric upwind-downwind axis is investigated. Finally, the ratio of pick-up ion and neutral fluxes for helium and oxygen expected to be seen by the Ulysses spacecraft are presented and their relevance for a determination of the long- and short-term averages of the total ionization frequencies of neutrals is discussed.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- December 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996A&A...316..511M
- Keywords:
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- INTERPLANETARY MEDIUM;
- ISM: GENERAL;
- SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD