Particle acceleration at a blunt termination shock

D. J. McComas

Particle acceleration at a blunt termination shock

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Voyager 1's recent and long anticipated passage into the heliosheath contradicted the prediction that we would observe the source of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) accelerated at the termination shock (TS). McComas and Schwadron suggested a simple resolution to this paradox. Because of the TS's blunt structure, the azimuthal magnetic field lines frozen into the solar wind first make contact with the TS at its nose where ions have very little time to be accelerated prior to being swept toward the shock's flanks. Ions achieve high ACR energies not near the nose, but off on the flanks of the termination shock. Here, we describe an important consequence that follows naturally from this scenario concerning the modulation of ACRs. ACRs are produced on the flanks of the termination shock, which are beyond Voyager. Thus, fluctuations caused by modulation of ACRs should be correlated with GCR fluctuations because both populations must drift in against the modulating effects of solar wind in the heliosheath. McDonald et al. [this volume] show striking evidence of this correlation, demonstrating clearly that the ACR source should be beyond Voyager.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH
Subtitle of host publication	Voyager Observations, Theory, and Future Prospects; 5th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference
Pages	165-170
Number of pages	6
State	Published - Dec 1 2006
Externally published	Yes
Event	PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: Voyager Observations, Theory, and Future Prospects; 5th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference - Oahu, HI, United States Duration: Mar 3 2006 → Mar 9 2006

Publication series

Name	AIP Conference Proceedings
Volume	858

Conference

Conference	PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: Voyager Observations, Theory, and Future Prospects; 5th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Oahu, HI
Period	3/3/06 → 3/9/06

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology
Plant Science
Physics and Astronomy(all)
Nature and Landscape Conservation

Keywords

Diffusive shock acceleration
Energetic particles
Termination shock

Cite this

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title = "Particle acceleration at a blunt termination shock",

abstract = "Voyager 1's recent and long anticipated passage into the heliosheath contradicted the prediction that we would observe the source of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) accelerated at the termination shock (TS). McComas and Schwadron suggested a simple resolution to this paradox. Because of the TS's blunt structure, the azimuthal magnetic field lines frozen into the solar wind first make contact with the TS at its nose where ions have very little time to be accelerated prior to being swept toward the shock's flanks. Ions achieve high ACR energies not near the nose, but off on the flanks of the termination shock. Here, we describe an important consequence that follows naturally from this scenario concerning the modulation of ACRs. ACRs are produced on the flanks of the termination shock, which are beyond Voyager. Thus, fluctuations caused by modulation of ACRs should be correlated with GCR fluctuations because both populations must drift in against the modulating effects of solar wind in the heliosheath. McDonald et al. [this volume] show striking evidence of this correlation, demonstrating clearly that the ACR source should be beyond Voyager.",

keywords = "Diffusive shock acceleration, Energetic particles, Termination shock",

author = "McComas, {D. J.}",

year = "2006",

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isbn = "0735403554",

series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",

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booktitle = "PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH",

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McComas, DJ 2006, Particle acceleration at a blunt termination shock. in PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: Voyager Observations, Theory, and Future Prospects; 5th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 858, pp. 165-170, PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: Voyager Observations, Theory, and Future Prospects; 5th Annual IGPP International Astrophysics Conference, Oahu, HI, United States, 3/3/06.

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PY - 2006/12/1

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N2 - Voyager 1's recent and long anticipated passage into the heliosheath contradicted the prediction that we would observe the source of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) accelerated at the termination shock (TS). McComas and Schwadron suggested a simple resolution to this paradox. Because of the TS's blunt structure, the azimuthal magnetic field lines frozen into the solar wind first make contact with the TS at its nose where ions have very little time to be accelerated prior to being swept toward the shock's flanks. Ions achieve high ACR energies not near the nose, but off on the flanks of the termination shock. Here, we describe an important consequence that follows naturally from this scenario concerning the modulation of ACRs. ACRs are produced on the flanks of the termination shock, which are beyond Voyager. Thus, fluctuations caused by modulation of ACRs should be correlated with GCR fluctuations because both populations must drift in against the modulating effects of solar wind in the heliosheath. McDonald et al. [this volume] show striking evidence of this correlation, demonstrating clearly that the ACR source should be beyond Voyager.

AB - Voyager 1's recent and long anticipated passage into the heliosheath contradicted the prediction that we would observe the source of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) accelerated at the termination shock (TS). McComas and Schwadron suggested a simple resolution to this paradox. Because of the TS's blunt structure, the azimuthal magnetic field lines frozen into the solar wind first make contact with the TS at its nose where ions have very little time to be accelerated prior to being swept toward the shock's flanks. Ions achieve high ACR energies not near the nose, but off on the flanks of the termination shock. Here, we describe an important consequence that follows naturally from this scenario concerning the modulation of ACRs. ACRs are produced on the flanks of the termination shock, which are beyond Voyager. Thus, fluctuations caused by modulation of ACRs should be correlated with GCR fluctuations because both populations must drift in against the modulating effects of solar wind in the heliosheath. McDonald et al. [this volume] show striking evidence of this correlation, demonstrating clearly that the ACR source should be beyond Voyager.

KW - Diffusive shock acceleration

KW - Energetic particles

KW - Termination shock

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ER -

Particle acceleration at a blunt termination shock

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

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