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Plasma waves in the shock interaction regions at comet Giacobini‐Zinner
Author(s) -
Kennel C. F.,
Coroniti F. V.,
Scarf F. L.,
Tsurutani B. T.,
Smith E. J.,
Bame S. J.,
Gosling J. T.
Publication year - 1986
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/gl013i009p00921
Subject(s) - comet , physics , solar wind , bow wave , shock wave , comet tail , bow shock (aerodynamics) , interplanetary spaceflight , astronomy , astrobiology , interplanetary medium , plasma , shock (circulatory) , spectral line , solar system , astrophysics , mechanics , nuclear physics , medicine
Basic uncertainties about the nature of the comet‐solar wind interaction have existed for decades, and even gross features of the interaction phenomena were poorly understood on theoretical grounds alone. The first discussions of measurements from the encounter of ICE (International Cometary Explorer) with Comet Giacobini‐Zinner did not provide immediate clarification of these issues. Here we analyze the nature of the interaction by examining the detailed evolution of the plasma wave spectra across the interaction region. It is shown that the cometary spectra are very similar to those detected at certain classes of interplanetary shocks and terrestrial bow shocks.