arXiv subjects

M. Bzowski

Publications and source records attributed to M. Bzowski.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Heavy coronal ions in the heliosphere. II. Expected fluxes of energetic neutral He atoms from the heliosheath

Aims. A model of heliosheath density and energy spectra of alpha-particles and He+ ions carried by the solar wind is developed. Neutralization of heliosheath He+ ions, mainly by charge exchange (CX) with neutral interstellar H and He atoms, gives rise to ~0.2 - ~100 keV fluxes of energetic neutral He atoms (He ENA). Such fluxes, if observed, would give information about plasmas in the heliosheath and heliospheric tail. Methods. Helium ions crossing the termination shock (TS) constitute suprathermal (test) particles convected by (locally also diffusing through) hydrodynamically calculated background plasma flows (three versions of flows are employed). The He ions proceed from the TS towards heliopause (HP) and finally to the heliospheric tail (HT). Calculations of the evolution of alpha- and He+ particle densities and energy spectra include binary interactions with background plasma and interstellar atoms, adiabatic heating (cooling) resulting from flow compression (rarefaction), and Coulomb scattering on background plasma. Results. Neutralization of suprathermal He ions leads to the emergence of He ENA fluxes with energy spectra modified by the Compton-Getting effect at emission and ENA loss during flight to the Sun. Energy-integrated He ENA intensities are in the range ~0.05 - ~50 cm^-2 s^-1 sr^-1 depending on spectra at the TS (assumed kappa-distributions), background plasma model, and look direction. The tail/apex intensity ratio varies between ~1.8 and ~800 depending on model assumptions. Energy spectra are broad with maxima in the ~0.2 - ~3 keV range depending on the look direction and model. Conclusions. Expected heliosheath He ENA fluxes may be measurable based on the capabilities of the IBEX spacecraft. Data could offer insight into the heliosheath structure and improve understanding of the post-TS solar wind plasmas. HT direction and extent could be assessed.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Heliolatitude and time variations of solar wind structure from in situ measurements and interplanetary scintillation observations

The 3D structure of solar wind and its evolution in time is needed for heliospheric modeling and interpretation of energetic neutral atoms observations. We present a model to retrieve the solar wind structure in heliolatitude and time using all available and complementary data sources. We determine the heliolatitude structure of solar wind speed on a yearly time grid over the past 1.5 solar cycles based on remote-sensing observations of interplanetary scintillations, in situ out-of-ecliptic measurements from Ulysses, and in situ in-ecliptic measurements from the OMNI-2 database. Since the in situ information on the solar wind density structure out of ecliptic is not available apart from the Ulysses data, we derive correlation formulae between solar wind speed and density and use the information on the solar wind speed from interplanetary scintillation observations to retrieve the 3D structure of solar wind density. With the variations of solar wind density and speed in time and heliolatitude available we calculate variations in solar wind flux, dynamic pressure and charge exchange rate in the approximation of stationary H atoms.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Precision Pointing of IBEX-Lo Observations

Post-launch boresight of the IBEX-Lo instrument onboard the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is determined based on IBEX-Lo Star Sensor observations. Accurate information on the boresight of the neutral gas camera is essential for precise determination of interstellar gas flow parameters. Utilizing spin-phase information from the spacecraft attitude control system (ACS), positions of stars observed by the Star Sensor during two years of IBEX measurements were analyzed and compared with positions obtained from a star catalog. No statistically significant differences were observed beyond those expected from the pre-launch uncertainty in the Star Sensor mounting. Based on the star observations and their positions in the spacecraft reference system, pointing of the IBEX satellite spin axis was determined and compared with the pointing obtained from the ACS. Again, no statistically significant deviations were observed. We conclude that no systematic correction for boresight geometry is needed in the analysis of IBEX-Lo observations to determine neutral interstellar gas flow properties. A stack-up of uncertainties in attitude knowledge shows that the instantaneous IBEX-Lo pointing is determined to within $\sim 0.1\degr$ in both spin angle and elevation using either the Star Sensor or the ACS. Further, the Star Sensor can be used to independently determine the spacecraft spin axis. Thus, Star Sensor data can be used reliably to correct the spin phase when the Star Tracker (used by the ACS) is disabled by bright objects in its field-of-view. The Star Sensor can also determine the spin axis during most orbits and thus provides redundancy for the Star Tracker.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2012

Neutral interstellar helium parameters based on IBEX-Lo observations and test particle calculations

Neutral Interstellar Helium (NISHe) is almost unaffected at the heliospheric interface with the interstellar medium and freely enters the solar system. It provides some of the best information on the characteristics of the interstellar gas in the Local Interstellar Cloud. The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is the second mission to directly detect NISHe. We present a comparison between recent IBEX NISHe observations and simulations carried out using a well-tested quantitative simulation code. Simulation and observation results compare well for times when measured fluxes are dominated by NISHe (and contributions from other species are small). Differences between simulations and observations indicate a previously undetected secondary population of neutral helium, likely produced by interaction of interstellar helium with plasma in the outer heliosheath. Interstellar neutral parameters are statistically different from previous in situ results obtained mostly from the GAS/Ulysses experiment, but they do agree with the local interstellar flow vector obtained from studies of interstellar absorption: the newly-established flow direction is ecliptic longitude 79.2 deg, latitude -5.1 deg, the velocity is \sim 22.8 km/s, and the temperature is 6200 K. These new results imply a markedly lower absolute velocity of the gas and thus significantly lower dynamic pressure on the boundaries of the heliosphere and different orientation of the Hydrogen Deflection Plane compared to prior results from Ulysses. A different orientation of this plane also suggests a new geometry of the interstellar magnetic field and the lower dynamic pressure calls for a compensation by other components of the pressure balance, most likely a higher density of interstellar plasma and strength of interstellar magnetic field.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2011

Solar parameters for modeling interplanetary background

The goal of the Fully Online Datacenter of Ultraviolet Emissions (FONDUE) Working Team of the International Space Science Institute in Bern, Switzerland, was to establish a common calibration of various UV and EUV heliospheric observations, both spectroscopic and photometric. Realization of this goal required an up-to-date model of spatial distribution of neutral interstellar hydrogen in the heliosphere, and to that end, a credible model of the radiation pressure and ionization processes was needed. This chapter describes the solar factors shaping the distribution of neutral interstellar H in the heliosphere. Presented are the solar Lyman-alpha flux and the solar Lyman-alpha resonant radiation pressure force acting on neutral H atoms in the heliosphere, solar EUV radiation and the photoionization of heliospheric hydrogen, and their evolution in time and the still hypothetical variation with heliolatitude. Further, solar wind and its evolution with solar activity is presented in the context of the charge exchange ionization of heliospheric hydrogen, and in the context of dynamic pressure variations. Also the electron ionization and its variation with time, heliolatitude, and solar distance is presented. After a review of all of those topics, we present an interim model of solar wind and the other solar factors based on up-to-date in situ and remote sensing observations of solar wind. Results of this effort will further be utilised to improve on the model of solar wind evolution, which will be an invaluable asset in all heliospheric measurements, including, among others, the observations of Energetic Neutral Atoms by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

A possible generation mechanism for the IBEX ribbon from outside the heliosphere

The brightest and most surprising feature in the first all-sky maps of Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA) emissions (0.2-6 keV) produced by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is an almost circular ribbon of a ~140° opening angle, centered at (l,b) = (33°, 55°), covering the part of the celestial sphere with the lowest column densities of the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC). We propose a novel interpretation of the IBEX results based on the idea of ENA produced by charge-exchange between the neutral H atoms at the nearby edge of the LIC and the hot protons of the Local Bubble (LB). These ENAs can reach the Sun's vicinity because of very low column density of the intervening LIC material. We show that a plane-parallel or slightly curved interface layer of contact between the LIC H atoms (n_H = 0.2 cm^-3, T = 6000-7000 K) and the LB protons (n_p = 0.005 cm^-3, T ~ 10^6 K), together with indirect contribution coming from multiply-scattered ENAs from the LB, may be able to explain both the shape of the ribbon and the observed intensities provided that the edge is < (500-2000) AU away, the LIC proton density is (correspondingly) < (0.04-0.01) cm^-3, and the LB contains ~1% of non-thermal protons over the IBEX energy range. If this model is correct, then IBEX, for the first time, has imaged in ENAs a celestial object from beyond the confines of the heliosphere and can directly diagnose the plasma conditions in the LB.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2008

Neutral H density at the termination shock: a consolidation of recent results

We discuss a consolidation of determinations of the density of neutral interstellar H at the nose of the termination shock carried out with the use of various data sets, techniques, and modeling approaches. In particular, we focus on the determination of this density based on observations of H pickup ions on Ulysses during its aphelion passage through the ecliptic plane. We discuss in greater detail a novel method of determination of the density from these measurements and review the results from its application to actual data. The H density at TS derived from this analysis is equal to 0.087 \pm 0.022 cm-3, and when all relevant determinations are taken into account, the consolidated density is obtained at 0.09 \pm 0.022 cm-3. The density of H in CHISM based on literature values of filtration factor is then calculated at 0.16 \pm 0.04 cm-3.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Neutral interstellar hydrogen in the inner heliosphere under the influence of wavelength-dependent solar radiation pressure

With the plethora of detailed results from heliospheric missions and at the advent of the first mission dedicated IBEX, we have entered the era of precision heliospheric studies. Interpretation of these data require precision modeling, with second-order effects quantitatively taken into account. We study the influence of the non-flat shape of the solar Ly-alpha line on the distribution of neutral interstellar H in the inner heliosphere. Based on available data, we (i) construct a model of evolution for the solar Ly-alpha line profile with solar activity, (ii) modify an existing test-particle code used to calculate the distribution of neutral interstellar H in the inner heliosphere so that it takes the dependence of radiation pressure on radial velocity into account, and (iii) compare the results of the old and new version. Discrepancies between the classical and Doppler models appear between ~5 and ~3 AU and increase towards the Sun from a few percent to a factor of 1.5 at 1 AU. The classical model overestimates the density everywhere except for a ~60-degr cone around the downwind direction, where a density deficit appears. The magnitude of the discrepancies appreciably depends on the phase of the solar cycle, but only weakly on the parameters of the gas at the termination shock. For in situ measurements of neutral atoms performed at ~1 AU, the Doppler correction will need to be taken into account, because the modifications include both the magnitude and direction of the local flux by a few km/s and degrees, respectively, which, when unaccounted for, would introduce an error of a few km/s and degrees in determination of the magnitude and direction of the bulk velocity vector at the termination shock.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Density of neutral interstellar hydrogen at the termination shock from Ulysses pickup ion observations

By reevaluating a 13-month stretch of Ulysses SWICS H pickup ion measurements near 5 AU close to the ecliptic right after the previous solar minimum, this paper presents a determination of the neutral interstellar H density at the solar wind termination shock and implications for the density and ionization degree of hydrogen in the LIC. The density of neutral interstellar hydrogen at the termination shock was determined from the local pickup ion production rate as obtained close to the cut-off in the distribution function at aphelion of Ulysses. As shown in an analytical treatment for the upwind axis and through kinetic modeling of the pickup ion production rate at the observer location, with variations in the ionization rate, radiation pressure, and the modeling of the particle behavior, this analysis turns out to be very robust against uncertainties in these parameters and the modeling. Analysis using current heliospheric parameters yields the H density at the termination shock equal to $0.087\pm0.022$ cm$^{-3}$, including observational and modeling uncertainties.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Heavy Coronal Ions in the Heliosphere: I. Global Distribution of Charge-states of C, N, O, Mg, Si and S

Aims: Investigate/Study de-charging of solar wind C, N, O, Mg, Si and S ions and assess fluxes of resulting ENA in the heliosphere. Methods: The model treats the heavy ions as test particles convected by (and in a particular case also diffusing through) a hydrodynamically calculated background plasma flow, from 1 AU to the termination shock (TS), to heliosheath (HS) and finally to heliospheric tail (HT). The ions undergo radiative and dielectronic recombinations, charge exchanges, photo- and electron impact ionizations with plasma particles, interstellar neutral atoms (calculated on a Monte-Carlo model) and solar photons. Results: Highly-charged heavy coronal ions flowing with the solar wind undergo successive de-ionizations, mainly in the heliosheath, leading to charge-states much lower than in the supersonic solar wind. If Coulomb scattering is the main ion energy loss mechanism, the end product of these deionizations are fluxes of ENA of ~1 keV/nucleon originating in the upwind heliosheath that for C, Mg, Si and S may constitute sources of pickup ions (PUI) significantly exceeding the interstellar supply. Conclusions: Discussed processes result in (i) distinct difference of ion charge q in the supersonic solar wind (approximately q >= +Z/2, Z = atomic number) compared to that in the HS (approximately 0 <= q <= +Z/2)), (ii) probable concentration of singly ionized atoms (q = +1) in the heliosheath towards the heliopause (HP) and in the HT, (iii) possible significant production of ENA in the HS offering natural explanation for production of PUI, and -- after acceleration at the TS -- anomalous cosmic rays (ACR) of species (like C, Mg, Si, S) unable to enter the heliospheric cavity from outside because of their total ionization in the local interstellar medium.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Survival probability and energy modification of hydrogen Energetic Neutral Atoms on their way from the termination shock to Earth orbit

Context: With the forthcoming launch of a NASA SMEX mission IBEX devoted to imaging of heliospheric interface by in-situ detection of Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA) an important issue becomes recognizing of transport of these atoms from the termination shock of the solar wind to Earth orbit. Aims: Investigate modifications of energy and of survival probability of the H ENA detectable by IBEX (0.01 -- 6 keV) between the termination shock and Earth orbit taking into account the influence of the variable and anisotropic solar wind and solar EUV radiation. Methods: Energy change of the atoms is calculated by numerical simulations of orbits of the H ENA atoms from ~100 AU from the Sun down to Earth orbit, taking into account solar gravity and Lyman-$α$ radiation pressure, which is variable in time and depends on radial velocity of the atom. To calculate survival probabilities of the atoms against onization, a detailed 3D and time-dependent model of H ENA ionization based on observations of the solar wind and EUV ionizing radiation is constructed, and wth the use of this model probabilities of survival of the atoms are calculated by numerical integration along the previously calculated orbits. Results: Owing to the radiation pressure, H ENA reach the Earth orbit practically without energy and direction change except the atoms with energy lower than 0.1 keV during high solar activity. For a given energy at Earth orbit one expects fluctuations of survival probability from ~20% at 0.01 keV down to just a few percent at 6 keV and a modulation of survival probability as a function of the location at Earth orbit, ecliptic latitude of the arrival direction, and the phase of solar cycle with an amplitude of a few dozen percent for 0.1 keV atoms at solar minimum to a few percent for 6 keV atoms at solar maximum.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Neutral interstellar hydrogen in the inner heliosphere under influence of wavelength-dependent solar radiation pressure

We study the influence of the non-flat shape of the solar Lyman-alpha line on the distribution of neutral interstellar hydrogen in the inner heliosphere and assess importance of this effect for interpretation of heliospheric in situ measurements. Based on available data, construct a model of evolution of the solar Lyman-alpha line profile with solar activity. Modify an existing test-particle code calculating distribution of neutral interstellar hydrogen in the inner heliosphere to take into account the dependence of radiation pressure on radial velocity. Discrepancies between the classical and Doppler models appear at ~ 5 AU and increase towards the Sun from a few percent to a factor of 1.5 at 1 AU. The classical model overestimates density everywhere except a ~ 60 deg cone around the downwind direction, where a density deficit appears. The magnitude of discrepancies depends appreciably on the phase of solar cycle, but only weakly on the parameters of the gas at the termination shock. For in situ measurements of neutral atoms performed at ~ 1 AU, as those planned for IBEX, the Doppler correction will need to be taken into account, because the modifications include both the magnitude and direction of the local flux by a few km/s and degree, which, when unaccounted for, would bring an error of a few degrees and a few km/s in determination of the bulk velocity vector at the termination shock. The Doppler correction is appreciable for in situ observations of neutral H populations and their derivatives performed a few AU from the Sun.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Detectability of neutral interstellar deuterium by a forthcoming SMEX mission IBEX

Context: Reconnaissance of feasibility of detection of interstellar neutral D by the forthcoming NASA SMEX mission IBEX. Aims: To investigate by numerical simulations the absolute density and flux at Earth orbit of neutral interstellar D and to check its detectability by IBEX. Methods: The simulations were performed with the use of the Warsaw 3D time-dependent test-particle model of neutral interstellar gas in the inner heliosphere, specially adapted to the case of D, and of the state-of-the-art models of the ionization field and radiation pressure. The modeling returned density, bulk velocity, and flux of interstellar D along at the Earth locations during the solar cycle. Particular attention was paid to the time interval corresponding to the planned operations of IBEX. Results: Simulations predict a large enhancement of D abundance at Earth orbit with respect to the abundance at the termination shock. The energy of the D atoms at IBEX will be within the energetic sensitivity band of its Lo instrument except a short time interval between September and November each year. Because of the specific observing geometry of IBEX, there will be one opportunity each year to search for I/S D, when Earth is near ecliptic longitude 136 deg, i.e. in February. Assuming the TS abundance of D identical as in the Local Cloud equal to 1.56E-5, and the density of H at TS 0.11/cm2/s one obtains the expected relative flux about 0.015/cm2/s, which corresponds to the local absolute flux about 0.007/cm2/s. The dependence of the expected flux on the phase of solar cycle is relatively weak. The flux scales proportionally to the density of deuterium at the termination shock and depends only weakly on the bulk velocity and temperature of the gas in this region.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Solar ions in the heliosheath: a possible new source of heavy neutral atoms

We show that multiply ionized coronal C, N, O, Mg, Si, S ions carried by the solar wind and neutralized by consecutive electron captures from neutral interstellar atoms constitute an important new source of neutral atoms in the inner heliosheath, with energies up to ~ 1 keV/n. In the model we developed, the heavy ions are treated as test particles carried by hydrodynamic plasma flow (with a Monte-Carlo description of interstellar neutrals) and undergoing all relevant atomic processes determining the evolution of all charge-states of considered species (radiative and dielectronic recombination, charge exchange, photo-, and electron impact ionization). The total strength of the source is from ~10^6 g/s for S to ~10^8 g/s for O, deposited as neutrals below the heliopause. These atoms should provide, as they drift to supersonic wind region, important sources of PUIs and eventually ACRs, especially for species that are excluded from entering the heliosphere because of their ionization in the LISM. The expected corresponding ENA fluxes at 1 AU are in the range 10^-4 - 10^0 at./(cm^2 s sr), depending on the species and direction (Table 2).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Sungrazing comets as source of pickup ions at Earth orbit and Ulysses

Most of the sungrazing comets observed by LASCO at SOHO belong to the Kreutz group of comets and follow trajectories that are tightly clumped in space. Statistical analysis of 9 years of SOHO observations suggests that the true apparition rate of these comets is as high as one every other day. Practically all these comets break up before perihelion passage. Their material is dissociated and ionized, and subsequently transported away from the Sun as pickup ions in the solar wind. Their mean mass flux is about $3.1 10^4 g/s. Since the breakup occurs between 40 and 4 solar radii and the ionization is almost immediate, the expected location of these ions in the phase space is close to the location of the inner source of pickup ions. Assuming radial propagation, the cometary pickups should be observable at Earth between August and January, with peak probability at the end of September. At Ulysses, they should be observable approximately between -25 and 40 degrees ecliptic latitude during the fast latitude scans, the first of which occurred in 1995 and the second in 2001. The population of cometary pickup ions should be augmented by about 40% by solar wind protons as a result of charge exchange with the cometary neutral hydrogen and oxygen atoms and subsequent reionization of the newly-created Energetic Neutral Atoms, streaming with respect to the solar wind. In total, the average flux of the pickup ions related to the sungrazing comets at 1 AU should be about 1.6 10^5 g/s/sr within the detection area (and null outside it). This value is comparable to the flux of the inner source-pickup ions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Are the sungrazing comets the inner source of pickup ions and energetic neutral atoms?

We present arguments that at least part of the inner source of pickup ions in the solar wind might be the material released by sungrazing comets. Based on a statistical analysis of sungrazing comets detected over almost eight years of LASCO operation (1996 -- September 09 2004) an overwhelming majority of the observed sungrazers belong to the Kreutz group of comets, follows tightly clumped orbits and break up at $\sim 40 - 4$ solar radii in a well defined region of space. The material released from these comets could be (after ionization) an important portion of the inner source of pickup ions (PUIs), as the local mass flux of the inner source and cometary PUIs seem comparable. We indicate time intervals during the year when the cometary PUIs could be observed from a spacecraft on the Earth's orbit (from the end of July until the end of the year) and show three time intervals when they should be observable by Ulysses (from its launch time until the end of 1990, from the end of November 1994 until mid-May 1995 and from February 2001 until the end of July, 2001). We argue that the PUIs from the inner source should include both singly and doubly charged ions and that this cometary hypothesis alleviates some difficulties (in particular, the issue of hydrogen deficit) in the interpretation of the inner source as solar wind neutralized on dust grains close to the Sun.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Charge-exchange-induced perturbations of ion and atom distribution functions in the heliospheric interface

Various hydrodynamic models of the heliospheric interface have been presented meanwhile, numerically simulating the interaction of the solar wind plasma bubble with the counterstreaming partially ionized interstellar medium. In these model approaches the resulting interface flows are found by the use of hydrodynamic simulation codes trying to consistently describe the dynamic and thermodynamic coupling of the different interacting fluids of protons, H-atoms and pick-up ions. Within such approaches, the fluids are generally expected to be correctly described by the three lowest velocity moments, i.e., by shifted Maxwellians. We shall show that in these approaches the charge-exchange-induced momentum coupling is treated in an unsatisfactory representation valid only at supersonic differential flow speeds. Though this flaw can be removed by an improved coupling term, we shall further demonstrate that the assumption of shifted Maxwellians in some regions of the interface is insufficiently well fulfilled both for H-atoms and protons. Using a Boltzmann-kinetic description of the proton- and H-atom- distribution functions coupled by charge exchange processes we emphasize the fact that non-negligible deviations from shifted Maxwellians are generated in the interface. This has to be taken into account when interpreting inner heliospheric measurements in terms of interstellar parameters.

astro-ph↗