Intense Magnetic Fields Observed by Voyager 2 during 1998

A region of relatively intense magnetic fields with a radial extent of ≈ 13 AU was observed by Voyager 2 (V2) from approximately DOY 264 - 312, 1998. The heliocentric distance of V2 was R = 55.9 - 56.3 AU and its heliographic latitude was δ = -19.4° to -19.6°. The galactic cosmic ray intensity dropped following the passage of the MIR, so that the MIR acted as a barrier to these particles. A broad region of enhanced low energy protons (1.8 - 2.8 MeV) was observed ahead of the MIR, consistent with the idea that protons were swept up by the MIR but could not penetrate through it. No shock was observed in that region, suggesting that the particles were accelerated by shocks elsewhere and/or by non-linear waves related to jumps in the bulk speed.