Diagnostics of corotating interaction regions with the kinetic properties of iron ions as determined with STEREO/PLASTIC

P. Bochsler; P. Bochsler; M. A. Lee; R. Karrer; L. K. Jian; L. Ellis; C. J. Farrugia; A. B. Galvin; L. M. Kistler; H. Kucharek; E. Möbius; M. A. Popecki; K. D. C. Simunac; L. M. Blush; H. Daoudi; P. Wurz; B. Klecker; R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber; B. Thompson; J. G. Luhmann; C. T. Russell; A. Opitz

doi:10.5194/angeo-28-491-2010

Annales Geophysicae (Feb 2010)

Diagnostics of corotating interaction regions with the kinetic properties of iron ions as determined with STEREO/PLASTIC

P. Bochsler,
P. Bochsler,
M. A. Lee,
R. Karrer,
L. K. Jian,
L. Ellis,
C. J. Farrugia,
A. B. Galvin,
L. M. Kistler,
H. Kucharek,
E. Möbius,
M. A. Popecki,
K. D. C. Simunac,
L. M. Blush,
H. Daoudi,
P. Wurz,
B. Klecker,
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber,
B. Thompson,
J. G. Luhmann,
C. T. Russell,
A. Opitz

Affiliations

P. Bochsler: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
P. Bochsler: permanent address: Bahnhofstrasse 54, 3127 Mühlethurnen, Switzerland
M. A. Lee: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
R. Karrer: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
L. K. Jian: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
L. Ellis: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
C. J. Farrugia: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
A. B. Galvin: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
L. M. Kistler: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
H. Kucharek: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
E. Möbius: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
M. A. Popecki: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
K. D. C. Simunac: Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
L. M. Blush: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
H. Daoudi: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
P. Wurz: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
B. Klecker: Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, 85741 Garching, Germany
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber: Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics, Christian-Albrechts-University, Leibnizstr. 11, 24098 Kiel, Germany
B. Thompson: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 USA
J. G. Luhmann: Space Science Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
C. T. Russell: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
A. Opitz: Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements (CNRS-UPS), 31028 Toulouse, France

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-28-491-2010
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28
pp. 491 – 497

Abstract

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STEREO/PLASTIC determines three-dimensional distributions of solar wind iron ions with unprecedented time resolution. Typically 300 to 1000 counts are registered within each 5 min time interval. For the present study we use the information contained in these distributions to characterize CIRs (Corotating Interaction Regions) in two test cases. We perform a consistency test for both the derived physical parameters and for the analytical model of CIRs of Lee (2000). At 1 AU we find that apart from compositional changes the most indicative parameter for marking the time when a CIR passes a spacecraft is the angular deflection of the flow vector of particles. Changes in particle densities and the changes in magnitudes of speeds are apparently less reliable indicators of stream interfaces.

Published in Annales Geophysicae

ISSN: 0992-7689 (Print); 1432-0576 (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Geophysics. Cosmic physics
Website: http://www.annales-geophysicae.net

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