Two-point observations of low-frequency waves at 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the descent of PHILAE: Comparison of RPCMAG and ROMAP

Ingo Richter*, Hans Ulrich Auster, Gerhard Berghofer, Chris Carr, Emanuele Cupido, Karl Heinz Fornaçon, Charlotte Goetz, Philip Heinisch, Christoph Koenders, Bernd Stoll, Bruce T. Tsurutani, Claire Vallat, Martin Volwerk, Karl Heinz Glassmeier

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The European Space Agency's spacecraft ROSETTA has reached its final destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Whilst orbiting in the close vicinity of the nucleus the ROSETTA magnetometers detected a new type of low-frequency wave possibly generated by a cross-field current instability due to freshly ionized cometary water group particles. During separation, descent and landing of the lander PHILAE on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, we used the unique opportunity to perform combined measurements with the magnetometers onboard ROSETTA (RPCMAG) and its lander PHILAE (ROMAP). New details about the spatial distribution of wave properties along the connection line of the ROSETTA orbiter and the lander PHILAE are revealed. An estimation of the observed amplitude, phase and wavelength distribution will be presented as well as the measured dispersion relation, characterizing the new type of low-frequency waves. The propagation direction and polarization features will be discussed using the results of a minimum variance analysis. Thoughts about the size of the wave source will complete our study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)609-622
Number of pages14
JournalAnnales Geophysicae
Volume34
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jul 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Interplanetary physics (interplanetary magnetic fields)
  • space plasma physics (instruments and techniques)
  • space plasma physics (waves and instabilities)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Two-point observations of low-frequency waves at 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during the descent of PHILAE: Comparison of RPCMAG and ROMAP'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this