Abstract
Momentum coupling between the solar wind (SW) and the cometary plasma is a crucial element in the plasma dynamics around comets. A bi-ion fluid model is applied instead of one-fluid MHD normally used in 3D global simulations. This new approach accounts for the observational fact of spacecraft measurements at comets that in a region inside the bow shock beginning from about cometary distances, where the mass density of cometary ions and protons becomes comparable, complex interaction processes take place. They are manifested in pronounced plasma structures and additional plasma boundaries. An essential signature of the bi-ion fluid description consists in the occurrence of new (bi-ion) wave modes which may grow to large amplitudes due to a drift of protons relative to the heavies. In this way, a structuring of all plasma parameters results. Additionally, steepening of the underlying bi-ion waves and their phase bunching in multiple “Mach cones” are suggested to be responsible for cometary tail ray formation. Corresponding results of 2D bi-ion fluid simulations are presented.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Alfven, H.: 1957, Tellus 9, 12.
Bonev, T. and Kokers, K.: 1994, Icarus 107, 335.
Book, D., Boris, J. P., and Zalesak, S. T.: 1981, in D. Book (ed.), Finite Difference Technique for Vectorized Fluid, Dynamics Calculations, Springer, Berlin, p. 29.
Brace, L. H., Kaspzak, W. T., Taylor, H. A. et al.: 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 15.
Brandt, J. C.: 1982, in L. L. Wilkening (ed.), Comets, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, p. 519.
Chapmann, S. C. and Dunlop, M. W.: 1986, J. Geophys. Res. 91, 8051.
Dubinin, E., Lundin, R., Riedler, W. et al.: 1991, J. Geophys. Res. 96, 11189.
Dubinin, E., Sauer, K., Lundin, R., Baumgärtel, K., and Bogdanov, A.: 1996, Geophys. Res. Lett. 23, 785.
Dubinin, E., Sauer, K., Baumgärtel, K., and Srivastava, K.: 1998, Earth Planets and Space, in press.
Ershkovich, A. A. and Chernikov, A. A.: 1973, Planet. Space Sci. 21, 663.
Fernandex, J. A. and Jockers, K.: 1983, Rep. Prog. Phys. 46, 665.
Fischer, C. T., Haerendel, G., and Bogdanov, A.: 1997–1999, Earth, Moon, and Planets 77, 279.
Gombosi, T. I., Hansen, K. C., DeZeeuw, D. L., Combi, M. R., and Powell, K. G.: 1997–1999, Earth, Moon, and Planets 79, in press.
Ip, W.-H. and Axford, W. I.: 1982, in L. L. Wilkening (ed.), Comets, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, p. 588.
Jockers, K.: 1991, in A. Johnstone (ed.), Cometary Plasma Processes, Geophys. Monograph 61, AGU, p. 139.
Larson et al.: 1998, Paper Presented at the First International Conference on Comet Hale–Bopp, Tenerife, Spain.
Maroshnik: 1982, The Moon and Planets 26, 353.
Omidi, N. and Winske, D. 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 13409.
Raeder, J.: 1990, PhD. Thesis, Köln.
Rauer, H., Wegmann, R., Schmidt, H. U., and Jockers, K.: 1995, Astron. Astrophys. 295, 529.
Russell, C. T., Riedler, W., Schwingenschuh, K., and Yeroshenko, Y.: 1987, Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 644.
Sauer, K., Bogdanov, A., and Baumgärtel, K.: 1994, Geophys. Res. Lett. 21, 2255.
Sauer, K., Bogdanov, A., Baumgärtel, K., and Dubinin, E.: 1996a, Planet. Space Sci. 44, 715.
Sauer, K., Bogdanov, A., Baumgärtel, K., and Dubinin, E.: 1996b, Physica Scripta T63, 111.
Sauer, K., Dubinin, E., and Baumgärtel, K.: 1996c, Geophys. Res. Lett. 23, 3643.
Sauer, K., Dubinin, E., and Baumgärtel, K.: 1998, Earth Planets and Space 50, 269.
Schmidt-Voigt, M.: 1989, Astron. Astrophys. 210, 433.
Schmidt, H.-U. and Wegmann, R.: 1982, in L. L. Wilkening (ed.), Comets, University Arizona Press, Tuscon, p. 538.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sauer, K., Dubinin, E. Cometosheath Structures and Tail Rays: Outcome of bi-ion Fluid Simulations. Earth, Moon, and Planets 77, 271–278 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006241906247
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006241906247