One- vs. Two-Shock Heliosphere: Constraining Models with GHRS LyA Spectra toward alpha Cen
| dc.creator | Gayley, K. G. | |
| dc.creator | Zank, G. P. | |
| dc.creator | Pauls, H. L. | |
| dc.creator | Frisch, P. C. | |
| dc.creator | Welty, D. E. | |
| dc.date | 1997-06-04 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-25T20:24:36Z | |
| dc.description | Redshifted L$α$ absorption toward $α$ Cen has been interpreted by Linsky & Wood (1996) and Frisch et al. (1996) as evidence for decelerated interstellar hydrogen piled up on the upstream side of the heliosphere. We utilize newly developed two-dimensional multi-fluid models of the solar wind interaction with the ISM to corroborate this interpretation by synthesizing the L$α$ absorption profile predicted for this ``hydrogen wall''. Both subsonic and supersonic inflow into the heliosphere are considered, corresponding to one-shock and two-shock global morphologies, respectively. It is found that these two extremes give observably different redward absorption characteristics in the L$α$ profiles, and our preliminary conclusion is that the L$α$ profiles seen toward $α$ Cen favor a barely subsonic model (Mach number 0.9). For such a model to hold, additional interstellar pressure terms, such as cosmic ray or magnetic pressures, must contribute. To make this conclusion more certain, an extended model-parameter survey is required, coupled with L$α$ data along other lines of sight. | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9706043 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9706043 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.dare.co.zw/handle/123456789/70830 | |
| dc.subject | Astrophysics | |
| dc.title | One- vs. Two-Shock Heliosphere: Constraining Models with GHRS LyA Spectra toward alpha Cen | |
| dc.type | text |