Three views of two giant streams: Aligned observations at 1 AU, 4.6 AU, and 5.9 AU

Abstract

A close radial alignment of the IMP and Pioneers 10 and 11 spacecraft in 1974 allows a nearly unambiguous, empirical study of the radial evolution of the interaction regions of two contrasting weak and strong, giant streams. The study confirms the main aspects of the standard model of corotating interaction regions: an expanding and strengthening pair of forward‐reverse shocks sandwich a stream interface. It adds the following concepts: stream group speed — the speed at the stream interface tends to remain constant with distance; corotating stream complexes — interaction regions can include features like noncompressive density enhancements and streamer belts; secondary interfaces — a possible precursor to the reverse shock; and emerging stream interfaces — one emerged between 1 AU and 4.6 AU. The study uses the conservation specific entropy to correlate features between spacecraft.