# Abstract/Details

## Ultraviolet resonance radiation and the structure of the heliosphere

1992 1992

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### Abstract (summary)

The solar system and heliosphere are embedded in a partially ionized medium flowing past the Sun at about 22 km s$\sp{-1}$. The Voyager and Pioneer 10 spacecraft are travelling upstream and downstream respectively, detecting Ly$\alpha$ radiation resonantly scattered from heliospheric hydrogen. None of the probes has encountered the solar wind termination shock, where the supersonic solar wind is believed to decelerate to subsonic speeds. Penetration of H atoms from the local interstellar flow is the principal source of heliospheric H. Solar gravitation, radiation pressure, and ionization processes largely control the H distribution. However, the presence of the solar wind termination shock is predicted to have two additional effects. H-p charge exchange reactions occurring in the hot, post-shock solar wind plasma should both reduce the number of penetrating H atoms and create a population of suprathermal H atoms. Therefore, heliospheric Ly$\alpha$ emission lines should be composed of narrow and wide components, which should be diagnostic of outer heliospheric structure. Previously unpublished Voyager Cruise Maneuver observations obtained between 15 and 40 AU reveal that upstream Ly$\alpha$ intensities fall as $r\sp{(-0.75\pm 0.05)}$. Beyond 15 AU downstream, Pioneer 10 Ly$\alpha$ falls as $r\sp{(-1.07\pm 0.1)}$. These trends cannot be simultaneously reproduced using models which do not include the termination shock. The Voyager data suggest an additional source of Ly$\alpha$ in the upstream region beyond 40 AU. This may be due to suprathermal H gas and/or gradients in the H density, both predicted to be associated with the termination shock. A new method of estimating the heliospheric H density between the two Voyager spacecraft is introduced. The results are ambiguous and suffer due to the uncertainty in relative instrumental Ly$\alpha$ sensitivities.

### Indexing (details)

Subject
Astronomy;
Astrophysics
Classification
0606: Astronomy
0606: Astrophysics
Identifier / keyword
Pure sciences; hydrogen density
Title
Ultraviolet resonance radiation and the structure of the heliosphere
Author
Hall, Doyle Thomas
Number of pages
244
Publication year
1992
Degree date
1992
School code
0009
Source
DAI-B 53/11, Dissertation Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
Shemansky, Donald E.
University/institution
The University of Arizona
University location
United States -- Arizona
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertations & Theses
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
9307702
ProQuest document ID
303986649