Objective
It is proposed to join the efforts of six teams who are dealing with theory and experiments in the heliosphere. We suggest the construction of a quantitative structural model of the heliosphere, and of the in interface between the solar wind and the surrounding interstellar medium. New data accessible to us have been recently (or are currently) gathered from space which provide different types of diagnostics of this interface and need to be synthesized:
backscattered solar Ly-alpha radiation measurements (SWAN/SOHO, GHRS/HST and UVS/Voyager;
interstellar pick-up ions and neutrals direct detections (SWICS/Ulysses);
recent energetic neutrals observations (CELIAS/ SOHO);
Combined with previous data from the Voyager, Pioneer and Ulysses spacecraft these new data should lead to a quantitative description of the heliosphere if they are compared with a variety of appropriate. It is proposed to develop these models to develop these models and to apply them to the combined sets of data.
This should allow the determination of the characteristics of the interstellar medium in the vicinity of the Sun, to compare with recent interstellar observations, and a precise knowledge of the distance spacecraft have to cover to reach the interstellar medium. The proposed modelling includes the implementation of a new method of solution of the 3D time-dependent kinetic Boltzman equation for the interstellar neutral gas flow.
It is planned to solve the following tasks:
to interpret previously collected data on the basis of existing axisymmetric model of the heliospheric interface;
to calculate stochastic acceleration of interstellar pick-up ions in the solar wind;
to calculate of fluxes of energetic neutrals on the basis of . axisymmetric model of the heliospheric interface and compare the spectra with new CELIAS/SOHO data;
to interpret new SWAN/SOHO Ly-alpha and SWICS/Ulysses pick up ions measurements of the basis of axysimmetric heliospheric interface model;
to study influence of the non-stationary effects induced by the 11 years period of the solar activity on the heliospheric interface structure and construct full time-dependant model o f the heliospheric interface;
to study influence of the interstellar and interplanetary magnetic fields on the heliospheric interface structure and construct MHD model of the heliospheric interface;
to calculate the dynamical influence of ACRs and galactic cosmic rays on the global structure of the heliosphere and interface region;
to develop a model which will allow us to explain the well known puzzle concerning deficit of anomalous hydrogen in ACRs.
As a result of proposed study t is expected to have global heliospheric interface model including all significant processes that will be responsible to interpret the new data from SOHO, Ulysses and Voyager spacecraft
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
91371 Verrieres-Le-Buisson
France