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Interstellar pickup hydrogen observations at large heliocentric distances
Author(s) -
Mihalov J. D.,
Gazis P. R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/97gl03785
Subject(s) - heliosphere , pickup , physics , astronomy , interstellar medium , solar wind , energetic neutral atom , hydrogen , astrophysics , astrobiology , plasma , galaxy , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
Possible signatures of interstellar pickup hydrogen have been identified in data from the Pioneer 10 and 11 Ames plasma analyzers at locations out to beyond the orbit of Saturn, and at a wide range of longitudes in the heliosphere, both upstream and downstream in the interstellar wind. These signatures provide an extension of pickup ion observations out to beyond 15 AU heliocentric distance, including near where the maximum pickup hydrogen flux is expected. A depletion of interstellar pickup hydrogen downstream from the Sun in the interstellar flow may be indicated. These signatures are consistent with Ulysses pickup ion measurements.