HR: 0830h
AN: SH21B-0147 [PDF]
TI: Interplanetary Field Enhancements: Further evidence of an interaction between the solar wind and
interplanetary dust
AU: * Jones, G H
EM: geraint.h.jones@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA
91109 United States
AU: Smith, E J
EM: edward.j.smith@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA
91109 United States
AU: Balogh, A
EM: a.balogh@imperial.ac.uk
AF: Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort
Road, London, SW7 2BW
United Kingdom
AB:
Interplanetary field enhancements (IFEs) are highly unusual, sharply-peaked increases in the magnitude of the heliospheric
magnetic field. They have been found in the solar wind over a wide range of heliocentric distances. Spatial clustering of
IFEs detected near Venus led to a link being found between some IFEs and dust particles co-orbiting with asteroid 2201
Oljato. This link suggested that the solar wind's characteristics are affected by its passage through localized
concentrations of dust. Here, evidence is presented of an association between other IFEs and comet 122P/de Vico. Other
evidence in support of a dust-induced source for IFEs is also described, including the draping of discontinuities seen at
many of the events, and the spatial coincidence of some IFEs and locations where high-density meteor streams are thought to
exist. Possible processes responsible for IFE formation are discussed, as well as implications for the remote study of
cometary dust trails.
DE: 2129 Interplanetary dust
DE: 2134 Interplanetary magnetic fields
DE: 2152 Pickup ions
DE: 6015 Dust
DE: 6030 Magnetic fields and magnetism
SC: SPA - Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting