Publication Date:
2019-06-28
Description:
Data from the Vega 1 permitted the determination of the total neutral gas density profile along the spacecraft trajectory. Discounting small fluctuations, the field ionization source instrument measured a density profile which varied approximately as the inverse radial distance squared. Data from the electron impact ionization instrument yielded a series of calibration points; e.g., the neutral density at 100,000 km is 10,000/cc. The combined data provide a calibrated total density profile, and imply a neutral production rate of 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
ESA Proceedings of the 20th ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet. Volume 1: Plasma and Gas; p 391-395
Format:
text
Permalink