Heavy Element Abundances in the Heliospheric Plasma Sheet

Using sample crossings of the heliospheric plasma sheet by the Ulysses spacecraft, we compare the abundances of heavy elements (Z > 2) near and within the sheet with the abundances found generally in the solar wind. The primary motivation for this study is to ascertain first if the sheet abundances are in fact different from those in the general solar wind, and, if so, to what extend the abundances reflect those known to be at the sun. A close relationship would confirm the sun to be the source of the plasma sheet, and may identify the source region. Variations of the abundances measured in the sheet from those near the sun will yield details of the transport mechanism.