Structure and evolution of the diamagnetic cavity at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw3148
• Publication Date: 2016-12-05T15:05:40Z
• Authors: C. Goetz; C. Koenders; K. C. Hansen; J. Burch; C. Carr; A. Eriksson; D. Frühauff; C. Güttler; P. Henri; H. Nilsson; I. Richter; M. Rubin; H. Sierks; B. Tsurutani; M. Volwerk; K. H. Glassmeier
• Keywords: Outgassing; Diamagnetism; Cavity wall

The long duration of the Rosetta mission allows us to study evolution diamagnetic cavity at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in detail. From 2015 April 2016 February 665 intervals could be identified where was located a zero-magnetic-field region. We temporal and spatial distribution this its boundary conclude that properties depend on long-term trend outgassing rate, but do not respond transient events spacecraft location, such as outbursts or high neutral densities. Using an empirical model we find functional relationship between rate distance nucleus. There is also no indication unexpectedly large related unusual solar wind conditions. Because deduced shape roughly elliptical small scales distances from nucleus are much larger than expected observed by due moving instability itself.