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Modeling of cometary X-rays caused by solar wind minor ions
R M Häberli1, T I Gombosi, D L De Zeeuw
1Space Physics Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 9, 1997
Summary
X-ray emissions from comet Hyakutake were explained by solar wind ion interactions. This study models these emissions, matching observations and predicting detailed energy spectra for cometary X-rays.
Area of Science:
- Cometary Science
- Plasma Physics
- Astrophysics
Background:
- X-ray emission was first detected in comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2) in 1996 by the Röntgen satellite.
- These emissions were hypothesized to result from high charge state solar wind ions capturing electrons from cometary molecules and atoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the X-ray emission from comet Hyakutake using plasma flow data.
- To validate the model by comparing computed X-ray emissions with observational data.
- To predict the energy spectrum of cometary X-rays.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a three-dimensional adaptive magnetohydrodynamic model to calculate plasma flow in comet Hyakutake's coma.
- Computed the density distribution of solar wind ions within the coma.
- Calculated the resulting X-ray emission based on ion density and plasma flow.
Main Results:
- The model's calculated High Resolution Imager count rate of 4.4 counts per second closely matched observations.
- The spatial distribution of the computed X-ray emission aligned with observational data.
- A detailed energy spectrum for cometary X-rays in the 80 to 2000 electronvolt range was predicted.
Conclusions:
- The magnetohydrodynamic model successfully explains the observed X-ray emissions from comet Hyakutake.
- Cometary X-rays serve as a valuable tool for monitoring cometary activity.
- Cometary X-rays can be used to analyze solar wind ion composition.