The effects of a local interstellar magnetic field on Voyager 1 and 2 observations

被引:145
作者
Opher, M
Stone, EC
Liewer, PC
机构
[1] George Mason Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
[2] CALTECH, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
[3] CALTECH, Jet Prop Lab, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA
关键词
interplanetary medium; ISM : kinematics and dynamics; solar wind; Sun : magnetic fields;
D O I
10.1086/503251
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We show that an interstellar magnetic field can produce a north-south asymmetry in the solar wind termination shock. Using Voyager 1 and 2 measurements, we suggest that the angle alpha between the interstellar wind velocity and the magnetic field is 30 degrees < alpha < 60 degrees. The distortion of the shock is such that termination shock particles could have streamed outward along the spiral interplanetary magnetic field connecting Voyager 1 to the shock when the spacecraft was within similar to 2 AU of the shock. The shock distortion is larger in the southern hemisphere, and Voyager 2 could be connected to the shock when it is within similar to 5 AU of the shock, but with particles from the shock streaming inward along the field. Tighter constraints on the interstellar magnetic field should be possible when Voyager 2 crosses the shock in the next several years.
引用
收藏
页码:L71 / L74
页数:4
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