Voyager 1 exited the solar wind at a distance of ∼85 au from the Sun

S. M. Krimigis (), R. B. Decker, M. E. Hill, T. P. Armstrong, G. Gloeckler, D. C. Hamilton, L. J. Lanzerotti and E. C. Roelof
Additional contact information
S. M. Krimigis: The Johns Hopkins University
R. B. Decker: The Johns Hopkins University
M. E. Hill: University of Maryland
T. P. Armstrong: Fundamental Technologies
G. Gloeckler: University of Maryland
D. C. Hamilton: University of Maryland
L. J. Lanzerotti: Bell Laboratories
E. C. Roelof: The Johns Hopkins University

Nature, 2003, vol. 426, issue 6962, 45-48

Abstract: Abstract The outer limit of the Solar System is often considered to be at the distance from the Sun where the solar wind changes from supersonic to subsonic flow1. Theory predicts that a termination shock marks this boundary, with locations ranging2 from a few to over 100 au (1 au ≈ 1.5 × 108 km, the distance from Earth to the Sun). ‘Pick-up ions’ that originate3,4 as interstellar neutral atoms should be accelerated to tens of MeV at the termination shock, generating anomalous cosmic rays5,6,7. Here we report a large increase in the intensity of energetic particles in the outer heliosphere, as measured by an instrument on the Voyager 1 spacecraft. We argue that the spacecraft exited the supersonic solar wind and passed into the subsonic region (possibly beyond the termination shock) on about 1 August 2002 at a distance of ∼85 au (heliolatitude ∼34° N), then re-entered the supersonic solar wind about 200 days later at ∼87 au from the Sun. We show that the composition of the ions accelerated at the putative termination shock is that of anomalous cosmic rays and of interstellar pick-up ions.

Date: 2003
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DOI: 10.1038/nature02068

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