SH13E-03:
Voyager Observations of the Heliosheath
Monday, 15 December 2014: 2:10 PM
John D Richardson, MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States and Robert B Decker, Johns Hopkins Univ., Applied Physics Lab., Space, Laurel, MD, United States
Abstract:
Voyager 2 has been observing plasma in the heliosheath since 2007. This paper presents the most recent data through 106 AU. The plasma flows at Voyager 2 have maintained a constant average speed throughout the heliosheath but have turned significantly. Flow angles are over 60 degrees in the azimuthal (RT) plane and 30 degrees in the meridional (RN) plane. Most of the plasma is moving around the side of the heliosphere. Average densities and temperatures have remained constant since an increase in 2011. This flow pattern is very different from that observed at Voyager 1 by the LECP partlcle instrument. We compare flows at Voyager 2 derived from the particle and plasma in the RT plane by the plasma and LECP instruments and find generally good agreement.
