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3/16/2006 Physics Colloquium: Edward C. Stone
Physics Colloquium Series at
MIT
3/16/2006
Edward C. Stone, California Institute of Technology
Exploring the Final Frontier of the Solar System
In December 2004 at 94 AU, Voyager 1 crossed the termination shock
marking the abrupt slowing of the supersonic solar wind and began
exploring the region where the solar plasma presses outward against the
local interstellar medium. The radial flow in this region is much
slower than expected and the turbulence differs from than in the
supersonic solar wind. In contradiction to many predictions that
the shock was the source of medium energy anomalous cosmic rays, their
intensity did not peak at the shock, indicating their origin remains to
be discovered. However, the shock is the source of low energy ions
that reveal new aspects of the acceleration process. Recent results
from Voyager 2 at southern solar latitudes suggest that the shock may be
up to 10 AU closer than at Voyager 1 in the north, consistent with an
asymmetric distortion of the heliosphere by a local interstellar magnetic
field. The Voyagers will provide more insight into this outermost
region of the heliosphere and what lies beyond as they continue their
journeys to interstellar space.
Time: 4:15pm
Place: Room 10-250
Refreshments will be served in the Physics Undergraduate Lounge (8-329)
at 3:45pm
For a complete list of upcoming colloquia, please visit the Physics
website:
http://web.mit.edu/physics/newsandevents/physics_colloquia_sched_spring_06.html
_____________________________
Rosrin Srethapramote
Events & Special Projects
Department of
Physics
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, NE25-4100
Cambridge, MA
02139-4307
Phone: (617)253-6259
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http://web.mit.edu/physics/