Published January 15, 2015 | Version v1
Journal article

Has Voyager 1 really crossed the heliopause?

  • 1. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143 (United States)

Description

The Voyager 1 spacecraft is currently in the vicinity of the heliopause, which separates the heliosphere from the local interstellar medium. There has been a precipitous decrease in particles accelerated in the heliosphere, and a substantial increase in galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The evidence is unclear, however, as to whether Voyager 1 has crossed the heliopause into the local interstellar medium, or remains within the heliosheath. In this paper we propose a test that will determine whether Voyager 1 has crossed the heliopause: If Voyager 1 remains in the heliosheath, the high plasma densities must be due to compressed solar wind, with the consequence that Voyager 1 will encounter another current sheet, where the polarity of the magnetic field reverses. Voyager 1 observations can be used to predict that the next current sheet crossing is likely to occur during 2015. A prediction is also provided as to what the Voyager 2 plasma detector will measure in the next few years

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/577/1/012011

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Physics. Conference Series (Online)
Journal Volume
577
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[10 p.]
ISSN
1742-6596

Conference

Title
Voyager, IBEX, and the Interstellar Medium
Acronym
13. Annual International Astrophysics Conference
Dates
10 Mar 2014
Place
Myrtle Beach, SC (United States)

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
47025032
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Descriptors DEI
ASTROPHYSICS; COSMIC RADIATION; HELIOSPHERE; INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS; PLASMA DENSITY; SOLAR WIND; VOYAGER SPACE PROBES
Descriptors DEC
ATMOSPHERES; IONIZING RADIATIONS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PHYSICS; RADIATIONS; SOLAR ACTIVITY; SOLAR ATMOSPHERE; SPACE VEHICLES; STELLAR ACTIVITY; STELLAR ATMOSPHERES; STELLAR WINDS; VEHICLES