Abstract
Methods and results of investigations of the interstellar gas inside the heliosphere are summarized and discussed. Flow parameters of H and He and the relative abundances of H, He, N, O, and Ne in the distant heliosphere are given. Charge exchange processes in front of the heliosphere affect the flow of hydrogen and oxygen through the heliopause. The speed of hydrogen is reduced by ∼6 km/s, and screening leads to a reduction of the O/He and H/He ratios in the neutral gas entering the heliosphere. When the screening effect and the acceleration processes leading to the anomalous cosmic rays (ACR) are sufficiently understood, abundances in the LIC can be derived from measurements inside the heliosphere. Since isotopic ratios are virtually not changed by screening or by EUV and solar wind ionisation, relative abundances of isotopes in the gaseous phase of the LIC can be determined with no or minor correction from investigations of the neutral gas, pickup ions and ACR particles.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ajello, J.M., Pryor, W.R., Barth, C.A., Hord, C.W., Steward, A.I.F., Simmons, K.E., and Hall, D.T.: 1994, Astron. and Astrophys. 289, 283.
Anders, E. and Grevesse, N.: 1989, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 53, 197–214.
Baguhl, M, Grün, E., and Landgraf, M.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Banaszkiewicz, M., Witte, M., and Rosenbauer, H.: 1996, Astron. and Astrophys. Suppl. Ser., in press.
Benkert, J.P., Baur, H., Signer, P., and Wieler, R.: 1993, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 13147–13162.
Bertaux, J.L., Lallement, J.L., Kurt, V.G., Mironova, E.N.: 1985, Astron. and Astrophys. 150, 1.
Black, D.C.: 1972, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 36, 347–375.
Bodmer, R., Bochsler, P., Geiss, J., von Steiger, R., and Gloeckler, G.: 1995, Space Sci. Rev. 72, 61–64.
Bühler, F., Lind, D.L., Geiss, J., and Eugster, O.: 1993, in A.S. Levine, NASA Conf. Publ. 3194, Part 2, 705–722.
Carlson, B.E., Lacic, A.A., and Rossow, W.B.: 1993, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 5251–5290.
Chassefière E., Dalaudier F., Bertaux J.L.: 1988, Astron. Astrophys. 201, 113.
Coplan, M. A., Ogilvie, K.W., Bochsler, P. and Geiss, J.: 1984, Solar Phys. 93, 415–434.
Cummings, A.C. and Stone, E.C.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Dupuis, J., Vennes, S., Bowyer, S., Pradhan, A.K. and Thejll, P.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 455, 574–589.
Eberhardt, P.: 1974, Earth and Planet. Sci. Lett. 24, 182–187.
Fahr, H.J., Osterbart, R. and Rucinski, D.: 1995, Astron. and Astrophys. 294, 587.
Fisk, L.A., Koslovsky, B. and Ramati, R.: 1974, Astrophys. J. Letters 190, L35.
Frisch, P. and Slavin, J.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Gautier, D. and Owen, T.: 1983, Nature 304, 691–694.
Geiss, J.: 1993, in Prantzos, N., Vangioni-Flam, E., Cassé, M. (eds.), Origin and Evolution of the Elements, Cambridge University Press, pp. 112–131.
Geiss, J., Bühler, F., Cerutti, H., Eberhardt, P. and Fillieux, C.: 1972, in Apollo 16 Preliminary Science Report, NASA SP-315, Washington, D.C., Chapter 14.
Geiss, J. and Reeves, H.: 1972, Astron. and Astrophys. 18, 126–132.
Geiss, J., Gloeckler, G., Mall, U., von Steiger, R., Galvin A.B. and Ogilvie, K.W.: 1994, Astron. and Astrophys. 282, 924–933.
Geiss, J., Gloeckler, G., and von Steiger, R.: 1994a, Phil. Trans. Royal. Soc. A 349, 213–226.
Geiss, J., Gloeckler, G., Fisk, L. A., and von Steiger, R.: 1995, J. Geophys. Res. 100, 23,373–23,377.
Geiss, J., Gloeckler, G., and von Steiger, R.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Gloeckler, G.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Gloeckler, G., Geiss, J., Balsiger, H., Fisk, L. A., Galvin, A. B., Ipavich, F. M., Ogilvie, K. W., von Steiger, R., and Wilken, B.: 1993, Science 261, 70–73.
Gloeckler, G., Schwadron, N.A., Fisk, L.A. and Geiss, J.: 1995, Geophys. Res. Letters 22, 2665–2668.
Gloeckler, G. and Geiss, J.: 1996, Nature 381, 210–212.
Kerridge, J.F., Bochsler, P. Eugster, O. and Geiss, J.: 1992, Lunar and Planetary Science XXII, Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, Houston, 239–248.
Lallement, R.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Lallement R., Bertaux J.L., and Clarke J.: 1993, Science 260, 1095.
Leske, R.A., Mewaldt, R.A., Cummings, A.C., Cummings, J.R., and Stone, E.C.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Linsky, J.L.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Linsky, J.L. et al.: 1993, Astrophys. J. 402, 694–709.
Möbius, E.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Möbius, E., Rucinski, et al.: 1996, Ann. Geophysicae 14, 492–496.
Niemann, H.B. et al.: 1992, Space Sci. Rev. 60, 111.
Quémerais, E.J., Bertaux, J.L., Sandel, B.R., and Lallement, R.: 1994, Astron. and Astrophys. 290, 961.
Ripken, H.W. and Fahr, H.J.: 1983, Astron. and Astrophys. 122, 181–192.
Rucinski, D., Cummings, A.C., Gloeckler, G., Lazarus, A.J., Möbius, E., and Witte, M.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Vallerga, J.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Witte, M., Rosenbauer, H., Keppler, E., Fahr, H., Hemmerich, P., Lauche, H., Loidl, A. and Zwick, R.: 1992, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 92, 333.
Witte, M., Rosenbauer, H., Banaszkiewicz, M. and Fahr, H.: 1993, Adv. Space Res. 13, (6)121.
Witte, M., Banaszkiewicz, M. and Rosenbauer, H.: 1996, Space Sci. Rev., this issue.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geiss, J., Witte, M. Properties of the interstellar gas inside the heliosphere. Space Sci Rev 78, 229–238 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170809
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00170809