Abstract The fact of a relative motion of the solar system with respect to the ambient interstellar medium causes a series of qualitatively very different physical influences on both the supersonic and the subsonic solar wind plasma regimes. We are quantifying some of these influences here which are connected with the action of interstellar neutral gas atoms, low and high energy plasmas and magnetic fields. As is shown quantitatively here the distribution of neutral interstellar gases in the heliosphere, and the interplanetary UV/EUV glows and pick-up ion fluxes connected with it, have received clear imprints from the ionized component of the interstellar medium which, when carefully analysed, will permit the derivation of many unknown parameters of this component. From our synoptic analysis of distant upwind and downwind interplanetary Lyman-Alpha data we shall conclude that these data can only be reconciled under the strong plead for a termination shock at an upwind distance of about 50 to 70 AU. No clearcut answer, however, can be given as to why the shock is forced to be located such close to the sun. Furthermore we derive theoretical arguments why the heliospheric shock and the supersonic solar wind approaching it should have pronounced upaxis/downaxis asymmetries which when clearly determined could reveal a tilt of this axis with respect to the neutral interstellar wind vector and thereby give some clear hints towards the magnitude and the direction of the interstellar magnetic field. Starting from theoretical solutions for the postshock plasma flows which are consistent with the flow of the ambient interstellar medium we derive the location and geometry of the solar termination shock converting an inner supersonic solar wind to this postshock flow.


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    Titel :

    Imprints of the interstellar medium on location, geometry and nature of the heliospheric shock


    Beteiligte:
    Fahr, Hans J. (Autor:in) / Osterbart, Roger (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 13 , 6 ; 159-171


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    1993-01-01


    Format / Umfang :

    13 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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