Structure of the IBEX Ribbon from Distributed Sources. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schwadron, N. A.; McComas, D. J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 1332(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Physics -- Congresses; 530.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1332/1/012013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-6588

Abstract

Abstract: The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission discovered the presence of a global structure in energetic neutral atom emissions from the outer heliosphere not predicted by any model – the IBEX "ribbon". In the search for possible explanations, observations have pointed to a likely source from neutral atoms produced through charge-exchange with the outflowing solar wind. The secondary (neutral) solar wind then undergoes charge-exchange beyond the heliopause to produce the proton population that forms the ribbon. Here we study the plasma structure beyond the heliopause created from distributed secondary neutral atom sources. We provide a framework to analyze the IBEX ribbon taking into account distributed neutral atom sources within the local interstellar medium.