The Interstellar Probe as a Unique Gateway to Astrophysics
Abstract
The Very Local Interstellar Medium which extends beyond the heliosphere and its outer boundaries is composed of five main components: neutral gas, dust grains, interstellar plasma, energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays, and finally the galactic magnetic field.
We will start from a brief assessment of the current knowledge we have of these five different components of the Interstellar Medium from "classical" remote sensing observations, and of their importance as a way to better understand the galactic environment within which our solar system is embedded and with which it is in pressure balance. We will then describe how a well-chosen instrument package flying on board of the Interstellar Probe will provide uniquely new characterization of these five components and of their interplay and will make "firsts" in several science areas of the physics and chemistry of the Interstellar Medium. We will discuss the choice of an optimal science payload for the ISP from the astrophysics perspective, with emphasis on the advanced plasma sensor for interstellar studies being studied in our laboratory.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSH51E3329B
- Keywords:
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- 2124 Heliopause and solar wind termination;
- INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS;
- 2126 Heliosphere/interstellar medium interactions;
- INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS;
- 6224 Kuiper belt objects;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 7599 General or miscellaneous;
- SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY