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Generation of X-rays from Comet C/Hyakutake 1996 B2
1R. Bingham, B. J. Kellett, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QX, UK. J. M. Dawson, Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. V. D. Shapiro, Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA. D. A. Mendis, Department of Electrical and Computing Science, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92092, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 3, 1997
Summary
Lower hybrid waves accelerate electrons to keV energies, potentially explaining X-ray emissions from comet C/Hyakutake. Higher energy electrons produce stronger X-ray signals, aiding cometary composition studies.
Area of Science:
- Space Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Cometary Science
Background:
- Cometary X-ray emissions are observed but their origin is not fully understood.
- The interaction between cometary plasma and the solar wind is a key area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the generation of lower hybrid waves by cometary photoions and solar wind interaction.
- To determine if these waves can accelerate electrons to energies responsible for observed X-ray emissions.
- To explore how X-ray spectral resolution can reveal cometary composition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma instabilities at comet-solar wind interfaces.
- Modeling electron acceleration by lower hybrid waves.
- Correlation of electron energies with inferred X-ray photon power.
Main Results:
- Relative motion of cometary photoions and solar wind generates lower hybrid waves.
- These waves can accelerate electrons to keV energies.
- keV electrons yield X-ray photon power two orders of magnitude greater than 100 eV electrons.
Conclusions:
- Electron acceleration by lower hybrid waves is a plausible mechanism for cometary X-ray production.
- X-ray spectral data offers a valuable tool for probing cometary composition.