Abstract
The energetic particle experiment, EPONA/EPA, carried aboard the Giotto spacecraft recorded in situ measurements of energetic charged particles on the sunward side of comet Halley, from a trajectory very close to the nucleus (closest approach 600 km). Here we present selected observations from the inbound and outbound passes. Preliminary studies suggest the presence on the inbound pass of an ion ‘pick-up’ region (∼6×l06 km in extent) and a region inside the bow shock (<106 km in extent) where possible signatures of mass loading were evident. Acceleration by the pick-up process in the solar wind is inadequate to explain the energies of the observed ions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
McKenna-Lawlor, S. et al. Eur. Space Ag. spec. Publ. 1077, 53–65 (1986).
Neubauer, F. M. Nature 321, 352–355 (1986).
Rème, H. et al. Nature 321, 349–352 (1986).
Huebner, W. F. & Giguere, P. T. Astrophys. J. 238, 753–762 (1980).
Sanderson, T. R. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 13, 411–414 (1986).
Ipavich, F. M. et al. Science 232, 366–369 (1986).
Richardson, I. G. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 13, 415–418 (1986).
Balsiger, H. et al. Nature 321, 330–334 (1986).
Krankowsky, D. et al. Nature 321, 326–329 (1986).
Korth, A. et al. Nature 321, 335–336 (1986).
Ip, W.-H. & Axford, W. I. Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie Preprint No. MPAE-W-100-86-07 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McKenna-Lawlor, S., Kirsch, E., O'Sullivan, D. et al. Energetic ions in the environment of comet Halley. Nature 321 (Suppl 6067), 347–349 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321347a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321347a0
This article is cited by
-
The Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) on the New Horizons Mission
Space Science Reviews (2008)
-
Numerical study on the spatial extent of interaction region surrounding comet nucleus—Ion pick-up process
Earth, Planets and Space (2003)
-
Chaos and its implications
Pramana (1997)
-
Low-frequency plasma turbulence during solar wind-comet interaction
Astrophysics and Space Science (1987)
-
The Giotto encounter with comet Halley
Nature (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
