Plasma processes at comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko: Expectations for Rosetta

Abstract

AbstractThe Rosetta–Philae mission to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014 will provide a unique opportunity to observe the variable nature of the interaction of a comet with the solar radiation and the solar wind, as the comet approaches the Sun. In this short paper we will focus on the varying global structure of the cometary plasma environment. Specifically we make predictions on the varying locations of the two basic transitions in the global, contaminated solar wind flow toward the comet: the outer bow shock and the ionopause.