HR: 15:30h
AN: P44A-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Charge Exchange Of Solar Wind Alpha Particles In Cometary Atmospheres
AU: * Bodewits, D
EM: bodewits@kvi.nl
AF: KVI Atomic Physics, RuG, Zernikelaan 25, Groningen, NL 9747 AA Netherlands
AU: Hoekstra, R
EM: hoekstra@kvi.nl
AF: KVI Atomic Physics, RuG, Zernikelaan 25, Groningen, NL 9747 AA Netherlands
AU: Tielens, X
EM: tielens@astro.rug.nl
AF: Kapteyn Institute, RuG, Landleven 12, Groningen, NL 9747 AD Netherlands
AB: Cometary far ultraviolet and soft X-ray emission can provide detailed insight in the interaction between comets and the solar wind. Using the two complementary experimental techniques of photon emission spectroscopy and translation energy spectroscopy we have studied state selective charge exchange in collisions between fully ionized helium and target gasses characteristic for cometary atmospheres. Experiments were performed at velocities typical for the solar wind (200-1500 km/s). From the experimental data cross sectional data sets are produced that are used for modeling the interaction of solar wind alpha particles with cometary atmospheres. Our model results demonstrate how the solar wind velocity and how cometary properties such as the composition of its atmosphere, the outgassing rate and the heliocentric distance are reflected in the helium line emission.
UR: http://www.kvi.nl/~atf
DE: 6025 Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields
DE: 7831 Laboratory studies
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly