Numerical simulations of primary and secondary hydrogen ENA fluxes at 1 AU

Eric Zirnstein, Jacob Heerikhuisen, Nikolai Pogorelov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The interaction between the solar wind (SW) and the local interstellar medium (LISM) creates energetic neutral atoms (ENAs), mainly Hydrogen (H), at energies similar to ions in the SW. H ENAs are born from charge exchanges between SW protons and LISM H atoms. A large portion of measurable primary ENAs are born in the inner heliosheath (IHS), where the heated and condensed SW plasma has a large thermal component to direct ENAs back toward 1 AU. Secondary ENAs, however, require secondary charge exchanges before being detected at 1 AU. Primary ENAs born in the supersonic and subsonic SW may exit the HP, charge exchange into pick-up ions (PUIs), and charge exchange again to become secondary ENAs. Recent IBEX observations show a ribbon of flux dominating the entire sky. It is possible that the IBEX ribbon is created through secondary charge exchange processes. In this paper we present a numerical code that calculates primary and secondary H ENA fluxes by integrating along ENA trajectories. We will provide descriptions of the code and preliminary results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSpace Weather
Subtitle of host publicationThe Space Radiation Environment - 11th Annual International Astrophysics Conference
Pages262-267
Number of pages6
Edition1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
Event11th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Space Weather: The Space Radiation Environment - Palm Springs, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 19 2012Mar 23 2012

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Number1
Volume1500
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference11th Annual International Astrophysics Conference on Space Weather: The Space Radiation Environment
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPalm Springs, CA
Period3/19/123/23/12

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

  • Energetic neutral atoms
  • pick-up ion
  • Solar wind-local interstellar medium

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