Two-point observations of low-frequency waves at 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the descent of PHILAE: comparison of RPCMAG and ROMAP
The European Space Agency's spacecraft ROSETTA has reached its final destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Whilst orbiting in the close vicinity of the nucleus the ROSETTA magnetometers detected a new type of low-frequency wave possibly generated by a cross-field current instability...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/34/609/2016/angeo-34-609-2016.pdf |
| Summary: | The European Space Agency's spacecraft ROSETTA has reached its final
destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Whilst orbiting in the close
vicinity of the nucleus the ROSETTA magnetometers detected a new type of
low-frequency wave possibly generated by a cross-field current instability
due to freshly ionized cometary water group particles. During separation,
descent and landing of the lander PHILAE on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko,
we used the unique opportunity to perform combined measurements with the
magnetometers onboard ROSETTA (RPCMAG) and its lander PHILAE (ROMAP). New
details about the spatial distribution of wave properties along the
connection line of the ROSETTA orbiter and the lander PHILAE are revealed. An
estimation of the observed amplitude, phase and wavelength distribution will
be presented as well as the measured dispersion relation, characterizing the
new type of low-frequency waves. The propagation direction and polarization
features will be discussed using the results of a minimum variance analysis.
Thoughts about the size of the wave source will complete our study. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |