Authors: Saul L., Möbius E., Smith C.W., Bochsler P., Grünwaldt
H., Klecker B., Ipavich F.
Reference: Geophys. Res. Lett. 31, L05811 10.1029/2003GL019014
(2004)
Abstract:
A statistical analysis of interstellar He+ pickup ion measurements
from SOHO/CTOF combined with magnetic field data from WIND/MFI enable
quantitative study of wave-particle interactions in the inner heliosphere
for the first time. Magnetic field vector measurements with a time
resolution of 3 seconds are used to determine power spectrum
characteristics of interplanetary magnetic turbulence. These spectral
characteristics are then compared in superposed epoch and correlation
analyses with He+ fluxes and spectra. The observed pickup ion velocity
distributions can be explained consistently as a consequence of pitch
angle scattering of the interstellar pickup ions by Alfvenic fluctuations.