A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Connecting the interstellar magnetic field at the heliosphere to the Loop I superbubble




AuthorsP C Frisch, A Berdyugin, H O Funsten, A M Magalhaes, D J McComas, V Piirola, N A Schwadron, D B Seriacopi, S J Wiktorowicz

Publication year2015

JournalJournal of Physics: Conference Series

Journal name in source13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS CONFERENCE: VOYAGER, IBEX, AND THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

Journal acronymJ PHYS CONF SER

Article numberARTN 012010

Volume577

Number of pages10

ISSN1742-6588

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/577/1/012010


Abstract

The local interstellar magnetic field affects both the heliosphere and the surrounding cluster of interstellar clouds (CLIC). Measurements of linearly polarized starlight provide the only test of the magnetic field threading the CLIC. Polarization measurements of the CLIC magnetic field show multiple local magnetic structures, one of which is aligned with the magnetic field traced by the center of the "ribbon" of energetic neutral atoms discovered by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Comparisons between the bulk motion of the CLIC through the local standard of rest, the magnetic field direction, the geometric center of Loop I, and the polarized dust bridge extending from the heliosphere toward the North Polar Spur direction all suggest that the CLIC is part of the rim region of the Loop I superbubble.




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