Open AccessOxygen 16 to oxygen 18 abundance ratio in the solar wind observed by Wind/MASS
Author(s) -
Collier Michael R.,
Hamilton D. C.,
Gloeckler G.,
Ho G.,
Bochsler P.,
Bodmer R.,
Sheldon R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/97ja02245
Subject(s) - solar wind , coronal mass ejection , oxygen , atmospheric sciences , physics , spacecraft , solar irradiance , environmental science , astrophysics , astronomy , plasma , quantum mechanics
Measurements of the 16 O and 18 O distribution functions in the solar wind at low to average solar wind speeds from the MASS instrument on the Wind spacecraft are reported. The 16 O/ 18 O density ratio is 450 ± 130, a value consistent with terrestrial, solar photospheric, solar energetic particle, and galactic cosmic ray 16 O/ 18 O isotopic ratios. This study constitutes the first reported spacecraft measurement of the isotope 18 O in the core solar wind and may represent the best determination of the solar 16 O/ 18 O density ratio to date.