The Distribution of Interstellar Neutrals and Pickup Ions in Interplanetary Space

利用太阳风、风和SOHO卫星任务的结果，研究人员获得了大量的日光层和星际介质的原位数据。 这些数据在确定以下方面具有重要的准确性：（1）日光层的大小和形状，（2）非常局部的星际介质参数，（3）星际介质和日光层之间界面区域的物理过程，以及（4）星际离子群加速到高能量，产生异常宇宙射线成分。 继续使用这些数据，研究人员正在通过使用新的数据和更精确的模型来推导星际氦的基线参数集。 他们正在确定局部星际介质的电离分数，穿过日光层边界界面层的星际气体的分数，以及加速到更高能量的拾取离子的输入成分，形成宇宙射线的异常成分。

With results from Ulysses, Wind and SOHO satellite missions, investigators have obtained a wealth of in-situ heliosphere and interstellar medium data. This data leads to significant accuracy on determining: (1) the heliosphere's size and shape, (2) the very local interstellar medium parameters, (3) physical processes in the interface region between the interstellar medium and heliosphere, and (4) the fractional acceleration of the interstellar ion population to high energies, creating the anomalous cosmic ray component. Continuing to use this data, investigators are deriving a baseline parameter set for interstellar helium by using new data and more accurate models. They are determining the fractional ionization of the local interstellar medium, the fraction of interstellar gas passing thorough the interface layer at the heliospheric boundary, and the input composition for pickup ions accelerated to higher energies, forming the anomalous component of cosmic rays.