Analitical stationary solution for the plasma flow in the vicinity of the stagnation point of the heliopause
Abstract
Current concept of the studies of the heliopause instability problem implies that plasma parameters jump at the heliopause that is the tangential discontinuity separating the solar wind plasma from the interstellar flow. The flow in the vicinity of the stagnation point at the heliopause is multi-dimensional and stationary. Our analytical study shows that this approach is indeed correct for the fully ionized plasma flow and is not correct if the plasma compressibility and the neutral component of the interstellar medium are taken into account. In the latter case the structure of the flow near the stagnation point is more complicated. This paper presents new solution of the flow in the vicinity of the stagnation point. In this solution there is no jump of plasma parameters through the heliopause. This novel concept may have significant influence on formulation and study of the heliopause stability problem.
- Publication:
-
37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008cosp...37..232B