Litcius/Paper detail

A Catalog of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections Observed by Juno between 1 and 5.4 au

Emma E. Davies, R. J. Forsyth, R. M. Winslow, Christian Möstl, Noé Lugaz

2021The Astrophysical Journal26 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

Abstract We use magnetic field measurements by the Juno spacecraft to catalog and investigate interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) beyond 1 au. During its cruise phase, Juno spent about 5 yr in the solar wind between 2011 September and 2016 June, providing measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) between 1 and 5.4 au. Juno therefore presents the most recent opportunity for a statistical analysis of ICME properties beyond 1 au since the Ulysses mission (1990–2009). Our catalog includes 80 such ICME events, 32 of which contain associated flux-rope-like structures. We find that the dependency of the mean magnetic field strength of the magnetic flux ropes decreases with heliocentric distance as r −1.24±0.43 between 1 and 5.4 au, in good agreement with previous relationships calculated using ICME catalogs at Ulysses. We combine the Juno catalog with the HELCATS catalog to create a data set of ICMEs covering 0.3–5.4 au. Using a linear regression model to fit the combined data set on a double-logarithmic plot, we find that there is a clear difference between global expansion rates for ICMEs observed at shorter heliocentric distances and those observed farther out beyond 1 au. The cataloged ICMEs at Juno present a good basis for future multispacecraft studies of ICME evolution between the inner heliosphere, 1 au, and beyond.

Topics & Concepts

PhysicsCoronal mass ejectionInterplanetary spaceflightAstronomyInterplanetary mediumAstrophysicsCorona (planetary geology)Interplanetary spaceSolar windAstrobiologyPlasmaNuclear physicsVenusAstro and Planetary ScienceSolar and Space Plasma DynamicsGamma-ray bursts and supernovae
A Catalog of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections Observed by Juno between 1 and 5.4 au | Litcius