Inferring the Interstellar Magnetic Field Direction from Energetic Neutral Atom Observations of the Heliotail

Abstract

Determining the magnitude and direction of the interstellar magnetic field ( B _ISM ) is a long-standing problem. To date, some methods to infer the direction and magnitude have utilized best-fit models to the positions of the termination shock and heliopause measured by Voyager 1 and 2. Other models use the circularity of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) ribbon assuming a secondary energetic neutral atom (ENA) mechanism. Previous studies have revealed that the B _ISM organizes the orientation of the heliotail with respect to the solar meridian. Here we propose a new way to infer the direction of the B _ISM based on ENA observations of the heliotail. IBEX observations of the heliotail have revealed high-latitude lobes of enhanced ENA flux at energies >2 keV. Analyses showed that the high-latitude lobes are nearly aligned with the solar meridian, while also exhibiting a rotation with solar cycle. We show, using steady-state solar wind conditions, that the inclination of the lobes reproduced with commonly used values for the angle ( α _BV ) between B _ISM and the interstellar flow in the hydrogen deflection plane (40° < α _BV < 60°) is inconsistent with the IBEX ENA observations. We report that 0° < α _BV < 20° best replicates the heliotail lobe inclinations observed by IBEX. Additionally, our model results indicate that the variation of the solar magnetic field magnitude with solar cycle causes the longitudinal rotation of the lobes observed by IBEX by affecting the inclination of the lobes.

Keywords

• Heliosphere
• Interstellar magnetic fields
• Interstellar medium
• Heliosheath
• Solar system
• Heliopause