 |
Detailed Reference Information |
Bagenal, F. and McNutt, R.L. (1989). Pluto’s interaction with the solar wind. Geophysical Research Letters 16: doi: 10.1029/89GL02834. issn: 0094-8276. |
|
If Pluto's atmospheric rate is significantly greater than 1.5¿1027 molecules s-1 then the interaction with the tenuous solar wind at 30 A.U. will be like that of a comet: there will be extensive ion pick-up upstream and the size of the interaction region will vary directly with variations in the solar wind flux. If the escape flux is much less, then one expects that the solar wind will be deflected around Pluto's ionosphere in a Venus-like interaction. In either case, the weak interplanetary magnetic field at 30 A.U. results in very large gyroradii for the picked up ions and a thick bow shock, necessitating a kinetic treatment of the interaction. Strong variations in the size of the interaction region are expected on time scales of days due to changes in the solar wind. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989 |
|
 |
 |
BACKGROUND DATA FILES |
|
 |
Abstract |
|
 |
|
|
|
Keywords
Planetology, Fluid Planets, Interactions with particles and fields, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields |
|
Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
|
|
 |