EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Tsurutani et al. 1989
Tsurutani, B.T., Brinca, A.L., Buti, B., Smith, E.J., Thorne, R.M. and Matsumoto, H. (1989). Magnetic pulses with durations near the local proton cyclotron period: Comet Giacobini-Zinner. Journal of Geophysical Research 94: doi: 10.1029/88JA03070. issn: 0148-0227.

Magnetic pulses with durations near the local proton cyclotron period (in the spacecraft frame) have been detected during the ICE encounter with comet Giacobini-Zinner. The pulses typically last only a single cycle (solitary wave), are transverse, noncompressional oscillations, and have peak-to-peak transverse amplitudes of 2--3 nT. Occasional large pulses with amplitudes of 5--7 nT have been detected. The waves typically propagate at angles 2¿--15¿ relative to B0 and are highly elliptically (linearly) polarized. The pulses have been detected when &agr;, the angle between the ambient magnetic field and the solar wind velocity, is 90¿¿30¿ and when ICE was 350,000--700,000 km from the comet. At the present time it is uncertain whether such pulses are generated exclusively under large &agr; conditions or whether the presence of large-amplitude heavy ion cyclotron waves during more moderate &agr; conditions mask their presence. It is also unclear whether these pulses are superposed on top of cometary turbulence of simply a part of it. The above observations will be compared to recent theoretical predictions of cometary waves generated during large &agr; conditions. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Magnetic fields and magnetism
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
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
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit