Cometary Plasma Processes

Cometary Plasma Processes
Author: Alan D. Johnstone
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Total Pages: 388
Release: 1991-01-08
Genre: Science
ISBN:

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 61. Since Explorer 1 discovered the Earth's radiation belts more than thirty years ago, there have been many opportunities to show the value of in-situ observations over remote-sensing when it comes to an understanding of the space plasma environment. When one of the inner solar system's regular visitors was due to make its once-in-a-lifetime appearance in 1986 the opportunity was too important to be missed. For not only is comet Halley one of the most reliable comets it is also nearly two orders of magnitude larger than any other comet with a known period. Well before there was any visible trace of Halley's comet in the night sky, three of the big four space agencies were banking on that reliability and were preparing five spacecraft to make the journey to intercept the comet. Such activity acted as a spur to the ingenuity of the fourth agency who found a way to redirect one of their long-serving spacecraft and to win the race to be the first to a comet, albeit the smaller, and at the time virtually unknown, Giacobini-Zinner. Although a healthy spirit of competition infused the scientific and engineering teams working on the project at various levels, what mattered in the end was the global cooperation between the agencies and many ground-based observers which for example, enabled Giotto to reach the comet with one-tenth of the targetting error that had originally been predicted.

Basic Plasma Processes on the Sun

Basic Plasma Processes on the Sun
Author: E.R. Priest
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 574
Release: 1990-09-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780792308799

Much of the excitement in modern Solar Physics has come from the realisation that the Sun is a plasma and that this plasma is interacting with the magnetic field in a wide variety of subtle ways. As well as being of great interest in their own right the observed plasma phenomena on the Sun are of much wider importance, since they reveal to us details of basic phenomena that are expected to be occurring throughout the universe. It was with this in mind that 173 solar physicists from 17 countries gathered together in Bangalore with an air of anticipation. We were not disappointed as we received the warmest of welcomes from our graceful and charming host,Vinod Krishan. She and her colleagues worked tirelessly to make our stay a most memorable one and to ensure that the meeting ran with calm and efficiency. In addition to being stimulated by an excellent series of talks on the up-to-the minute advances in our subject, it was a pleasure to make new friendships from so many countries and to learn, in particular, of the Solar Physics being done in India which has a great tradition and is of a high standard. Furthermore, we enjoyed hearing about Indian culture and appreciating its beauty, especially on our day's tour into the countryside to visit some Hindu and Jain temples.

Comets in the Post-Halley Era

Comets in the Post-Halley Era
Author: R.L. Newburn
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 692
Release: 1991-04-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780792311652

In Part Based on Reviews Presented at the 121st Colloquium of the International Astronomical Union, held in Bamberg, Germany, April 24-28, 1989

Plasma Astrophysics And Space Physics

Plasma Astrophysics And Space Physics
Author: Jörg Büchner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 755
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401142033

In May 1998 a hundred renowned scientists from 20 different countries met at the Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie to communicate their latest results and ideas in astrophysical and space plasma, as a follow-up to previous similar meetings which were held in Varenna, Abastumai, Potsdam, Toki and Guaruja. The main papers emerging from this meeting are collected in this volume. They deal with fundamental plasma phenomena, particle and radiation processes in astrophysics and space physics as the origin of magnetic activity, the basic mechanisms of particle acceleration and plasma heating common to plasma in galaxies and at the sun as well as in planetary magnetospheres. New observational results from YOHKOH, SOHO and other missions are presented. Using these, the basic physical processes leading to coronal heating and solar/stellar wind acceleration are discussed. Other topics are the microphysics of shock waves and transport phenomena in collisionless plasmas and the physics of thin plasma boundaries. The volume also treats the ionic composition of plasma and dust in the Universe and their observability in the solar system. A CD-ROM is attached which adds a valuable multimedia component, illuminating results of observations, theory and simulations. Everyone interested in astrophysical plasmas, its radiation and charged particle aspects, and advanced or even beginning students will find references to nearly all modern aspects of plasma astrophysics and space physics as well as an overview of current research results.

Waves in Dusty Space Plasmas

Waves in Dusty Space Plasmas
Author: Frank Verheest
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401099456

In this volume a thorough review is given of waves in dusty plasmas, a fascinating new domain combining plasmas and charged dust, two omnipresent ingredients of the Universe. Spokes and braids observed in the rings of Saturn cannot be explained by gravitation alone, but need the presence of charged dust. Other examples abound, as in zodiacal light, noctilucent clouds, comets and molecular clouds. After discussing charging mechanisms, supported by exciting new experiments, and space observations, the book describes extensions of known plasma modes covering the low frequencies typical for charged dust. Mixing detailed theoretical steps with summaries of expert contributions, a systematic multi-species treatment puts the literature in perspective, suitable also for newcomers. Typical complications like fluctuating dust charges, self-gravitational effects, and size distributions are dealt with, before ending with an outlook to future work and open questions. In this way, experts as well as interested newcomers will find a reliable guide, not just a compendium.

Comets

Comets
Author: Laurel L. Wilkening
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
Total Pages: 784
Release: 1982-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780816507696

Over forty authorities present sections on the nucleus, dust, coma, and tails of comets, along with sections on their origin, and relationships to other solar system bodies. . . . An excellent book.ÑSpace News "The volume is highly recommended to all interested in comets and the Solar System."ÑJournal of the British Astronomical Association "A good representation of the studies that are currently being done on comets, and it is an extremely good source of information on a wide variety of topics."ÑInternational Comet Quarterly "Extremely well-written and informative. . . . A must for library collections."ÑThe Observatory

Exploration of Halley’s Comet

Exploration of Halley’s Comet
Author: Michael Grewing
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 1005
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642829716

The 1985/86 apparition of Halley's Comet turned out to be the most important apparition of a comet ever. It provided a worldwide science community with a wealth of exciting new discoveries, the most remarkable of which was undoubtedly the first image of a cometary nucleus. Halley's Comet is the brightest periodic comet, and the most famous of the 750 known comets. With its 76-year period, its recent appearance was truly a "once-in-a-lifetime" observational opportunity. The 1985/86 apparition was the thirtieth consecutive recorded apparition. Five apparitions ago, the English astronomer Edmond Halley discovered the periodicity of "his" comet and correctly predicted its return in 1758, a triumph for science best appreciated in the context of contemporary views, or rather fears, about comets at that time. The increasingly rapid progress in technological development is very much apparent when one compares the dominant tools for cometary research during Halley's next three apparitions: in 1835 studies were made based on drawings ofthe comet; in 1910 photographic plates were used; while in March 1986 an armada of six spacecraft from four space agencies approached the comet and carried out in situ measurements, 1 AU from the Earth. In 1910, nobody could have dreamed that this was possible, and today it is equally difficult to anticipate what scientists will be able to achieve in 2061.

Dissociative Recombination of Molecular Ions with Electrons

Dissociative Recombination of Molecular Ions with Electrons
Author: Steven L. Guberman
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 467
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461500834

Dissociative Recombination of Molecular Ions with Electrons is a comprehensive collection of refereed papers describing the latest developments in dissociative recombination research. The papers are written by the leading researchers in the field. The topics covered include the use of microwave afterglows, merged beams and storage rings to measure rate coefficients and to identify the products and their yields. The molecules studied range in size from the smallest, H2+, to bovine insulin ions. The theoretical papers cover the important role of Rydberg states and the use of wave packets and quantum defect theory to deduce cross sections, rate constants and quantum yields. Several theoretical and experimental papers address the controversial topic of H3+ dissociative recombination and its importance in the interstellar medium. Dissociative recombination studies of other molecular ions in the interstellar medium and in cometary and planetary atmospheres are covered. Ionization is an important competitive process to dissociative recombination and its competition with predissociation and its role in the reverse process of the association of neutral species is presented. Dissociative attachment, in which an electron attaches to a neutral molecule, has many similarities to dissociative recombination. The topics covered include the accurate calculation of electron affinities, attachment to molecules, clusters, and to species absorbed on solid surfaces and electron scattering by a molecular anion.

Magnetotails in the Solar System

Magnetotails in the Solar System
Author: Andreas Keiling
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 417
Release: 2015-02-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1118842340

All magnetized planets in our solar system (Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) interact strongly with the solar wind and possess well developed magnetotails. It is not only the strongly magnetized planets that have magnetotails. Mars and Venus have no global intrinsic magnetic field, yet they possess induced magnetotails. Comets have magnetotails that are formed by the draping of the interplanetary magnetic field. In the case of planetary satellites (moons), the magnetotail refers to the wake region behind the satellite in the flow of either the solar wind or the magnetosphere of its parent planet. The largest magnetotail of all in our solar system is the heliotail, the “magnetotail” of the heliosphere. The variety of solar wind conditions, planetary rotation rates, ionospheric conductivity, and physical dimensions provide an outstanding opportunity to extend our understanding of the influence of these factors on magnetotail processes and structures. Volume highlights include: Discussion on why a magnetotail is a fundamental problem of magnetospheric physics Unique collection of tutorials on a large range of magnetotails in our solar system In-depth reviews comparing magnetotail processes at Earth with other magnetotail structures found throughout the heliosphere Collectively, Magnetotails in the Solar System brings together for the first time in one book a collection of tutorials and current developments addressing different types of magnetotails. As a result, this book should appeal to a broad community of space scientists, and it should also be of interest to astronomers who are looking at tail-like structures beyond our solar system.