Skip to main content
Log in

Ultraviolet studies of the interplanetary and local interstellar medium

  • Published:
Cosmic Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A review of the last results of UV observations in the interplanetary space of neutral hydrogen and neutral helium in resonance lines HI λ1215.7 Å and HeI λ584 Å is presented. The history of discovery of the interstellar wind effect is expounded in the review, and interaction of the solar wind with the interstellar medium is briefly described. Models of the inner-heliospheric distribution of emissivity in the lines HI λ1215.7 Å and HeI λ584 Å are discussed, and possibilities of getting the solar wind parameters from UV observations in the L α line are considered. Currently accepted parameters of the local interstellar medium are presented. The parameters obtained are compared with those derived from non-optical measurements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baranov, V.B., Krasnobaev, K.V., and Kulikovskii, A.G., A Model of Interaction of the Solar Wind with the Interstellar Medium, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1970, vol. 194, no. 1.

  2. Lallement, R., Raymond, J.C., Bertaux, J.L., et al., Solar Cycle Dependence of the Helium Focusing Cone from SOHO/UVCS Observations. Electron Impact Rates and Associated Pickup Ions, Astron. Astrophys., 2004, vol. 426, p. 867.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Izmodenov, V.V. and Alexashov, D.B., A Model of Tail Part of the Heliosphere Interface, Pisma Astron. Zh., 2003, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 69–75.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Morton, D.C. and Purcell, J.D., Observations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation in the Night Sky Using an Atomic Hydrogen Filter, Planet. Space Sci., 1962, vol. 9, pp. 455–458.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kurt, V.G. and Germogenova, T.A., Scattering of Solar L α Emission by Galactic Hydrogen, Astron. Zh., 1967, vol. 44, p. 352.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kurt, V.G. and Dostovalov, S.B., Far Ultraviolet Radiation from the Milky Way, Nature, 1968, vol. 218, p. 258.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chambers, W.H., Fehlau, P.E., Fuller, J.C., and Kunz, W.E., Anisotropic Atomic Hydrogen Distribution in Interplanetary Space, Nature, 1970, vol. 225, pp. 713–714.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Meier, R.R. and Mange, P., Spatial and Temporal Variation of the Lyman-alpha Airglow and Related Atomic Hydrogen Distribution, Planet. Space Sci., 1973, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 309–327.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Blum, P.W. and Fahr, H.J., Interaction between Interstellar Hydrogen and the Solar Wind, Astron. Astrophys., 1970, vol. 4, pp. 280–290.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bertaux, J.L. and Blamont, J.E., Evidence of a Source of an Extraterrestrial Hydrogen Lyman-alpha Emission: The Interstellar Wind, Astron. Astrophys., 1971, vol. 11, pp. 200–217.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Thomas, G.E. and Krassa, R.F., OGO-5 Measurements of the Lyman-alpha Sky Background, Astron. Astrophys., 1971, vol. 11, pp. 218–233.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Paresce, F. and Bowyer, S., Resonance Scattering from Interstellar and Interplanetary Helium, Astron. Astrophys., 1973, vol. 27, p. 399.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Paresce, F., Bowyer, S., and Kumar, S., Evidence for an Interstellar or Interplanetary Source of Diffuse HeI 584 Å Radiation, Astron. J., 1973, vol. 183, p. L183.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Weller, C. and Meier, R., Observations of the He in the Interplanetary/Interstellar Wind—The Solar Wake Effect, Astrophys. J., 1974, vol. 193, pp. 471–476.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ajello, J., An Interpretation of Mariner 10 Helium (584 Å) and Hydrogen (1216 Å) Interplanetary Emission Observation, Astrophys. J., 1978, vol. 222, pp. 1068–1069.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Broadfoot, A. and Kumar, S., The Interstellar Wind—Mariner 10 Measurements of Hydrogen (1216 Å) and Helium (584 Å) Interplanetary Emission, Astrophys. J., 1978, vol. 222, pp. 1054–1067.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bertaux, J.-L., Blamont, J.E., and Kurt, V.G., Parameters of Interstellar Medium from Venera 9 LA Scattering Measurements, Kosm. Issled., 1978, vol. 16, pp. 214–221.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bertaux, J.-L., Blamont J.E., Tabarie, N., et al., Interstellar Medium in the Vicinity of the Sun—A Temperature Measurements Obtained with Mars-7 Interplanetary Probe, Astron. Asrophys., 1976, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 19–29.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bertaux, J.-L., Blamont, J.E., Mironova, A.N., et al., Temperature Measurement of Interplanetary-Interstellar Hydrogen, Nature, 1977, vol. 270, no. 5633, pp. 156–158.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Burgin, M.S., Kurt, V.G., and Mironova, E.N., Helium Atoms in the Interstellar and Interplanetary Medium: I. Observations of Scattered Ultraviolet Emission in Lines HI 1216 Å and HeI 584 Å with Prognoz-5 and Prognoz-6 Satellites, Kosm.. Issled., 1983, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 83–94.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kurt, V.G., Mironova, E.N., Bertaux, J.-L, and Dalaudier, F., Helium Atoms in the Interstellar and Interplanetary Medium: II. Determination of the Direction of Motion of Interstellar Medium with Respect to the Sun, Kosm. Issled., 1984, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 91–102.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kurt, V.G., Mironova, E.N., Bertaux, J.-L, and Dalaudier, F., Helium Atoms in the Interstellar and Interplanetary Medium: III. Temperature and Velocity of Interstellar Gas, Kosm. Issled., 1984, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 225–237.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Dalauidier, F., Bertaux, J.-L., Kurt, V.G., and Mironova, E.N., Characteristics of Interstellar Helium Observed with Prognoz-6 58.4 nm Photometer, Astron. Astrophys., 1984, vol. 134, pp. 171–184.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.-L., Kurt, V.G., and Mironova, E.N., Observed Perturbations of the Velocity Distribution of Interstellar Hydrogen Atoms in the Solar System with Prognoz Lyman Alpha Measurements, Astron. Astrophys., 1984, vol. 140, pp. 243–250.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bertaux, J.-L., Lallement, R., Kurt, V.G., and Mironova, E.N., Characteristics of the Local Interstellar Hydrogen Determined from Prognoz 5 and 6 Interplanetary Lyman-Alpha Profile Measurements with a Hydrogen Absorption Cell, Astron. Astrophys., 1985, vol. 150, no. 1, pp. 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bertaux, J.L., Lallement, R., and Quemerais, E., UV Studies and Solar Wind, Space Sci. Rev., 1996, vol. 78, pp. 317–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.L., and Dalaudier, F., Interplanetary Lyman-Alpha Spectral Profiles and Intensities for Both Repulsive and Attractive Solar Force Fields. Predicted Absorption Pattern by a Hydrogen Cell, Astron. Astrophys., 1985, vol. 150, pp. 21–32.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Baranov, V.B. and Malama, Yu.G., Model of the Solar Wind Interaction with the Local Interstellar Medium—Numerical Solution of Self-Consistent Problem, J. Geophys. Res., 1993, vol. 98, no. A9, p. 15157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.L., Chassefiere, E., and Sandel, B., Interplanetary Lyman-Alpha Observations with UVS on Voyager—Data, First Analysis, Implications for the Ionization Lifetime, Astron. Astrophys., 1991, vol. 252, pp. 385–401.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Bertaux, J.L., Kyrola, E., Quemerais, E., et al., SWAN: A Study of Solar Wind Anisotropies on SOHO with Lyman-Alpha Sky Mapping, Solar Physics, 1995, vol. 162, p. 403.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ajello, J.M., Stewart, A.I., Thomas, G.E., and Graps, A., Solar Cycles Study of Interplanetary Lyman-Alpha Variations—Pioneer Venus Orbiter Sky Background Results, Astrophys. J., 1987, vol. 317, pp. 964–986.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Joselyn, J.A. and Holzer, T.E., The Effect of Asymmetric Solar Wind on the Lyman Alpha Sky Background, J. Geophys. Res., 1975, vol. 80, p. 903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kumar, S. and Broadfoot, A.L., Evidence from Mariner 10 of Solar Wind Flux Depletion at High Ecliptic Latitudes, Astron. & Astrophys, 1978, vol. 69.

  34. Kumar, S. and Broadfoot, A.L., Signatures of Solar Wind Latitudinal Structure in the Interplanetary Lyman-Alpha Emissions—Mariner 10 Observations, Astrophys. J., 1979, vol. 228, pp. 302–311.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.L., and Kurt, V.G., Solar Wind Decrease at High Heliographic Latitudes Detected from Prognoz Interplanetary Lyman Alpha Mapping, J. Geophys. Res., 1985, vol. 90, pp. 1413–1423.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Summanen, T., Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.L., and Kyrola, E., Latitudinal Distribution of Solar Wind as Deduced from Lyman Alpha Measurements—An Improved Method, J. Geophys. Res., 1993, vol. 98-A8, pp. 13215–13224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhao, X.P. and Hundhausen, A.J., Organization of Solar Wind Plasma Properties in a Tilted Heliomagnetic Coordinate System, J. Geophys. Res., 1981, vol. 86, p. 5423.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Smith, E.J. and Marsden, R.G., Ulysses Observations from Pole-to-Pole: An Introduction, Geophys. Res. Lett., 1995, vol. 22, no. 23, p. 3297.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. McMullin, D.R., Bzowski, M., Mobius, E., et al., Heliospheric Conditions that Affect the Interstellar Gas inside the Heliosphere, Astron. Astrophys., 2004, vol. 426, p. 885.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bertaux, J.L., Quemerais, E., and Lallement, R., Observation of a Lyman α Groove Related to Enhanced Solar Wind Mass Flux in the Neutral Sheet, Geophys. Res. Lett., 1996, vol. 23, no. 25, pp. 3675–3678.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Bertaux, J.L., Kyrola, E., Quemerais, E., Lallement, R., et al., Swan Observations of the Solar Wind Latitude Distribution and Its Evolution Since Launch, Space Sci. Rev., 1999, vol. 87, no. 1/2, pp. 129–132.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Quemerais, E., Bertaux, J.L., Lallement, R., et al., Interplanetary Lyman α Line Profiles Derived from SWAN/SOHO Hydrogen Cell Measurements: Full Sky Velocity Field, J. Geophys. Res., 1999, vol. 104, no. A6, pp. 12585–12604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Costa, J., Lallement, R., Bertaux, J.L., et al., Heliospheric Interstellar H Temperature from SOHO/SWAN H Cell Data, Astron. Astrophys., 1999, vol. 349, pp. 660–672.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Wallis, M.K., Interaction between the Interstellar Medium and Solar Wind Plasma, Astrophys. Space Sci., 1973, vol. 20, pp. 3–16.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Fahr, H.J. and Lay, G., Solar Radiation Asymmetries and Heliospheric Gas Heating Influencing Extraterrestrial UV Data, Space Res., 1974, vol. 14, pp. 567–573.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Wallis, M.K., Collisional Heating of Interplanetary Gas: Focker-Planck Treatment, Planet. Space Sci., 1975, vol. 23, pp. 419–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Gruntman, M.A., Influence of Neutral Component of the Solar Wind on Interaction of the Solar System with the Interstellar Gas Flux, Pisma Astron. Zh., 1982, vol. 8, pp. 48–51.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Baranov, V.B., Lebedev, M.G., and Ruderman, M.S., Structure of the Region of Interaction between Solar Wind and Interstellar medium and Its Influence on Penetration of H Atoms into Solar Wind, Astrophys. Space Sci., 1979, vol. 66, pp. 429–440.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Burgin, M.S., Interaction of Plasma and Neutral Hydrogen on the Heliosphere Boundary, Pisma Astron. Zh., 1983, vol. 9, pp. 682–685.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. Fahr, H.J., The Interplanetary Hydrogen Cone and Its Solar Variation, Astron. Astrophys., 1971, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 263.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Blum, P.W., Pfleiderer, J., and Wulf-Mattes, C., Neutral Gases of Interplanetary Origin, Planet. Space Sci., 1975, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Pickelner, S., Structure and Dynamics of the Interstellar Medium, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 1968, vol. 6, p. 165.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Weller, C.S. and Meier, R.R., Analyses of the Helium Component of the Local Interstellar Medium, Astrophys. J., 1979, vol. 227, p. 816.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Weller, C.S. and Meier, R.R., Characteristics of the Helium Component of the Local Interstellar Medium, Astrophys. J., 1981, vol. 246, p. 386.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Ajello, J.M., Witt, N., and Blum, P.W., Four UV Observations of the Interstellar Wind by Mariner 10—Analysis with Spherically Symmetric Solar Radiation Models, Astron. Astrophys., 1979, vol. 73, p. 260.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. Lallement, R. and Bertin, P., Northern-Hemisphere Observations of Nearby Interstellar Gas—Possible Detection of the Local Cloud, Astron. Astrophys., 1992, vol. 266, p. 479.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Witte, M., Rosenbauer, H., Banaszkiewicz, M., and Fahr, H., The ULYSSES Neutral Gas Experiment—Determination of the Velocity and Temperature of the Interstellar Neutral Helium, Adv. Space Res., 1993, vol. 13, no. 6, p. 121.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. Witte, M., Banaszkiewicz, M., and Rosenbauer, H., Recent Results of the Parameters of the Interstellar Helium from the ULYSSES/GAS Experiment, Space Sci. Rev., 1996, vol. 78, p. 289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Gloeckler, G., Jokipii, J.R., Giacalone, J., and Geiss, J., Concentration of Interstellar Pickup H(+) and He(+) in the Solar Wind, Geophys. Res. Lett., 1994, vol. 21, p. 1565.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Gloeckler, G. and Geiss, J., Composition of the Local Interstellar Medium as Diagnosed with Pickup Ions, Adv. Space Res., 2004, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 53–60.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. Gloeckler, G., Mobius, E., Geiss, J., et al., Observations of the Helium Focusing Cone with Pickup Ions, Astron. Astrophys., 2004, vol. 426, pp. 845–854.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Lallement, R., Raymond, J.C., Bertaux, J.L., et al., Modeling the Interstellar-Interplanetary Helium 58.4 nm Resonance Glow: Towards a Reconciliation with Particle Measurements, Astron. Astrophys., 2004, vol. 426, pp. 875–884.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. G. Kurt.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © V.G. Kurt, E.N. Mironova, E. N. Fadeev, 2009, published in Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, 2009, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 3–16.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kurt, V.G., Mironova, E.N. & Fadeev, E.N. Ultraviolet studies of the interplanetary and local interstellar medium. Cosmic Res 47, 1–13 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010952509010018

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010952509010018

PACS

Navigation