On the development and global oscillations of cometary ionospheres

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (45) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On the development and global oscillations of cometary ionospheres Houpis, H. L. F. ; Mendis, D. A. Abstract Representing the cometary ionosphere by a single fluid model characterized by an average ionization time scale, both the ionosphere's development as a comet approaches the sun and its response to sudden changes in solar wind conditions are investigated. Three different nuclear sizes (small, average, very large) and three different modes of energy addition to the atmosphere (adiabatic, isothermal, suprathermal) are considered. It is found that the crucial parameter determining both the nature and the size of the ionosphere is the average ionization time scale within the ionosphere. Two different scales are identified. It is noted that the ionosphere can also be characterized by the relative sizes of three different scale lengths: the neutral standoff distance from the nucleus, the ion standoff distance from the nucleus, and the nuclear distance at which the ions and the neutrals decouple collisionally. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1981 DOI: 10.1086/158673 Bibcode: 1981ApJ...243.1088H Keywords: Atmospheric Models; Comet Heads; Earth Ionosphere; Ionospheres; Plasma Interactions; Solar Wind; Adiabatic Conditions; Comet Nuclei; Comet Tails; High Energy Electrons; Isothermal Processes; Neutral Particles; Photoionization; Plasmapause; Shock Waves; Solar Protons; COMETS; IONOSPHERE; OSCILLATIONS; SOLAR WIND; DYNAMICS; PRESSURE; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; ATMOSPHERE; VELOCITY; IONIZATION; DATA; DIAGRAMS; PHOTOGRAPHS; SIZE; NUCLEUS; ENERGY; TIME DEPENDENCY; IONS; SHAPE; SHOCK; IONOPAUSE; RADIUS; Astrophysics; Comets full text sources ADS |