Energetic Particles in the Outer Heliosphere

Abstract

Nonthermal energetic pickup ions (PUIs), created in the heliosphere by charge exchange between solar wind ions and interstellar neutral atoms, play an essential role in understanding solar wind evolution in the outer heliosphere and the structure and dynamics of the global heliosphere. New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, is now located at about 55 au from the Sun, exploring the outer heliosphere, and is the only spacecraft equipped with proper instruments to measure nonthermal energetic pickup ions (PUIs) in the outer heliosphere for the first time. Its observations showed that energetic PUIs dominate the internal pressure of the outer heliosphere, with PUI pressures larger than the thermal solar wind and magnetic pressures outside ~ 20 au. At these distances, PUIs contribute substantially to heating and slowing down the solar wind. Moreover, New Horizons observations showed that PUIs mediate shock waves in the outer heliosphere. Here, we give an overview of the energetic particles in the outer heliosphere and their effect on shocks. We present the in situ observations of the hydrogen and Helium PUIs made by New Horizons' SWAP and PEPSSI instruments. Finally, we present some of the most important open questions related to the outer heliosphere that future studies and space missions should address.