Magnitude and direction of the local interstellar magnetic field inferred from Voyager 1 and 2 interstellar data and global heliospheric model

Abstract

In this Letter, we provide constraints on the direction and magnitude of the pristine (i.e., unperturbed by the interaction with the Sun) local interstellar magnetic field. The constraints are based on analysis of the interstellar magnetic field components at the heliopause measured by magnetometer instruments on board Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. The analysis was performed with the help of our kinetic-magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) model of the global heliosphere. The model shows that the solar-induced disturbances of the interstellar magnetic field are extended relatively far from the Sun up to 400-500 AU. The field is draped around the heliopause and compressed. By comparison of the model results with Voyager data we found that the model provides results comparable with the data for the interstellar magnetic field of $B_{LISM}$ = 3.7-3.8 $\mu$G in magnitude and directed towards $\approx$125${}^{\circ }$ in longitude, and $\approx$37${}^{\circ }$ in latitude in the heliographic inertial (HGI) coordinate system.

5 pages + 2 appendixes

References in corpus (4)

• Revisiting Ulysses Observations of Interstellar Helium
• Neutral interstellar He parameters in front of the heliosphere 1994--2007
• Electron thermal conduction as a possible mechanism to make the inner heliosheath thnner
• Neutral interstellar helium parameters based on Ulysses/GAS and IBEX-Lo observations: what are the reasons for the differences?

Cited by in corpus (18)

• X-ray Searches for Axions from Super Star Clusters
• Heliospheric Energetic Neutral Atoms: Non-stationary Modeling and Comparison with IBEX-Hi data
• Signature of a heliotail organized by the solar magnetic field and the role of non-ideal processes in modeled IBEX ENA maps: a comparison of the BU and Moscow MHD models
• The development of a split-tail heliosphere and the role of non-ideal processes: a comparison of the BU and Moscow models
• Interstellar Conditions Deduced from Interstellar Neutral Helium Observed by IBEX and Global Heliosphere Modeling
• Energetic pickup proton population downstream of the termination shock as revealed by the IBEX-Hi data
• Effects of dispersion of the dust velocity in the LISM on the interstellar dust distribution inside the heliosphere
• Interstellar Neutral Hydrogen in the Heliosphere: New Horizons Observations in the Context of Models
• Backscattered solar Lyman-alpha emission as a tool for the heliospheric boundary exploration
• Dynamical charging of interstellar dust particles in the heliosphere
• On the injection scale of the turbulence in the partially ionized very local interstellar medium
• The strong effect of electron thermal conduction on the global structure of the heliosphere
• Adiabatic energy change in the inner heliosheath: How does it affect the distribution of pickup protons and energetic neutral atom fluxes?
• Seasonal variation of Saturn's Lyman-$\alpha$ brightness
• Impact of Stochastic Acceleration on the Pickup Proton Distribution and ENA Fluxes in the Heliosphere
• The Effect of Magnetic Field Dissipation in the Inner Heliosheath: Reconciling Global Heliosphere Model and Voyager Data
• Effects of angular scattering and H+p, H+H collisions on the properties of interstellar atoms in the heliosphere
• Understanding the IBEX ribbon using the kinetic model of pickup proton transport in a scatter-free limit