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Modeling the Plasma Flow in the Inner Heliosheath with a Spatially Varying Compression Ratio

Nicolaou, G; Livadiotis, G; (2017) Modeling the Plasma Flow in the Inner Heliosheath with a Spatially Varying Compression Ratio. The Astrophysical Journal , 838 (1) , Article 7. 10.3847/1538-4357/aa61ff. Green open access

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Abstract

We examine a semi-analytical non-magnetic model of the termination shock location previously developed by Exarhos & Moussas. In their study, the plasma flow beyond the shock is considered incompressible and irrotational, thus the flow potential is analytically derived from the Laplace equation. Here we examine the characteristics of the downstream flow in the heliosheath in order to resolve several inconsistencies existing in the Exarhos & Moussas model. In particular, the model is modified in order to be consistent with the Rankine– Hugoniot jump conditions and the geometry of the termination shock. It is shown that a shock compression ratio varying along the latitude can lead to physically correct results. We describe the new model and present several simplified examples for a nearly spherical, strong termination shock. Under those simplifications, the upstream plasma is nearly adiabatic for large (∼100 AU) heliosheath thickness.

Type: Article
Title: Modeling the Plasma Flow in the Inner Heliosheath with a Spatially Varying Compression Ratio
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aa61ff
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa61ff
Language: English
Additional information: © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Astronomy & Astrophysics, plasmas, shock waves, solar wind, Sun: heliosphere, HELIOSPHERIC TERMINATION SHOCK, LOCAL INTERSTELLAR-MEDIUM, SOLAR-WIND, TIME VARIATIONS, 1 AU, HELIOPAUSE, SPACE, DOWNSTREAM, SIMULATION, FIELD
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10041316
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