The inner source for pickup ions

Abstract

Pickup ions are observed by the Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer on Ulysses which appear to have been picked up close to the Sun. A transport theory for the propagation of these ions is used to constrain the spatial profiles of the ion sources. The composition is like that of the solar wind which suggests that the inner source pickup ions result from solar wind particles that are embedded in dust grains and then released. Through comparison between modeled and observed distributions, it is possible to constrain the radial and latitudinal profiles of the inner source. Inner source protons are also observed and may constitute an energetically important population in the solar wind. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.