In-situ observations of a bi-modal ion distribution in the outer coma of comet P/Halley

Summary

Observations obtained by the Johnstone Plasma Analyzer on the Giotto fly-by of comet Halley showed a fairly sudden decrease in the count rate of energetic (~ 30 keV) water-group ions inside about 5 10⁵ km from the nucleus. This decrease was accompanied by the appearance of a new water-group ion population at slightly lower energies (< 10 keV). Close inspection reveals that this lower-energy peak was also present somewhat earlier in the post-shock flow but only became prominent near the sudden transition just described. It is shown that the observed bimodal ion distribution is well explained in terms of the velocity history of the accreting solar wind flow in the outer coma. The decline in count rate of the energetic pick-up distribution is due to a relatively sudden slowing of the bulk flow there and not to a loss of particles. Hence charge-exchange cooling of the flow is probably not important at these distances from the nucleus. Finally, the observations suggest that pitch-angle scattering is fairly efficient at least after the bow shock, but that energy diffusion is probably not very efficient.