Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au
The two Voyager spacecraft have been exploring the interstellar medium beyond the heliopause since 2012 (Voyager 1) and 2018 (Voyager 2). Electron plasma oscillations and a quasi-thermal noise line at the electron plasma frequency have enabled the determination of the electron density in this region...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2617 |
| _version_ | 1797301932931416064 |
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| author | W. S. Kurth |
| author_facet | W. S. Kurth |
| author_sort | W. S. Kurth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The two Voyager spacecraft have been exploring the interstellar medium beyond the heliopause since 2012 (Voyager 1) and 2018 (Voyager 2). Electron plasma oscillations and a quasi-thermal noise line at the electron plasma frequency have enabled the determination of the electron density in this region, revealing a radial density gradient convolved with shocks and pressure fronts. Voyager 1 has a functioning wideband receiver that provides high-spectral-resolution observations allowing the detection of the quasi-thermal noise line and has now provided electron densities to 161.4 au. Since a pressure pulse observed in 2020 around day 146 at about 149 au, the density has remained relatively constant at 0.147 cm ^−3 based on the most recent observations from 2023, suggesting that Voyager 1 has reached a broad density peak and possibly a new regime. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:29:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e2377ba84d54816a197534f0f298e62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:29:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e2377ba84d54816a197534f0f298e622024-02-20T17:17:42ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019631L610.3847/2041-8213/ad2617Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 auW. S. Kurth0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5471-6202Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA 52242, USAThe two Voyager spacecraft have been exploring the interstellar medium beyond the heliopause since 2012 (Voyager 1) and 2018 (Voyager 2). Electron plasma oscillations and a quasi-thermal noise line at the electron plasma frequency have enabled the determination of the electron density in this region, revealing a radial density gradient convolved with shocks and pressure fronts. Voyager 1 has a functioning wideband receiver that provides high-spectral-resolution observations allowing the detection of the quasi-thermal noise line and has now provided electron densities to 161.4 au. Since a pressure pulse observed in 2020 around day 146 at about 149 au, the density has remained relatively constant at 0.147 cm ^−3 based on the most recent observations from 2023, suggesting that Voyager 1 has reached a broad density peak and possibly a new regime.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2617Interstellar mediumInterstellar plasmaSpace plasmasAstrosphere interstellar medium interactions |
| spellingShingle | W. S. Kurth Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au The Astrophysical Journal Letters Interstellar medium Interstellar plasma Space plasmas Astrosphere interstellar medium interactions |
| title | Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au |
| title_full | Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au |
| title_fullStr | Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au |
| title_full_unstemmed | Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au |
| title_short | Voyager 1 Electron Densities in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to beyond 160 au |
| title_sort | voyager 1 electron densities in the very local interstellar medium to beyond 160 au |
| topic | Interstellar medium Interstellar plasma Space plasmas Astrosphere interstellar medium interactions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2617 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wskurth voyager1electrondensitiesintheverylocalinterstellarmediumtobeyond160au |