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Direct observation of He+ pick-up ions of interstellar origin in the solar wind

Nature volume 318, pages 426–429 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Singly-ionized helium with a velocity distribution extending up to double the solar wind velocity has been detected in interplanetary space. This distribution unambiguously determines the source: interstellar neutrals, ionized and accelerated in the solar wind. The observed significant flux increase in early December is due to the gravitational focusing of the interstellar neutral wind on the downwind side of the Sun.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Physik und Astrophysik, Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, 8046, Garching, FRG

    E. Möbius, D. Hovestadt, B. Klecker & M. Scholer

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA

    G. Gloeckler & F. M. Ipavich

Authors
  1. E. Möbius
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  2. D. Hovestadt
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  3. B. Klecker
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  4. M. Scholer
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  5. G. Gloeckler
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  6. F. M. Ipavich
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Möbius, E., Hovestadt, D., Klecker, B. et al. Direct observation of He+ pick-up ions of interstellar origin in the solar wind. Nature 318, 426–429 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/318426a0

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