Detection of energetic electron (E greater than KeV) and ion fluxes (E greater than 97 KeV) from comet P/Halley by the Giotto experiment EPA on 1986 March 13/14

Abstract

Relativistic electron fluxes (greater than 220, greater than 300 KeV) were recorded during the Giotto encounter with comet P/Halley from the inbound to the outbound bowshock. A strong enhancement in the greater than 300 KeV electron flux was measured about 1 hr after the outbound crossing of the bow shock. It is suggested that the electrons were strongly beamed by the magnetic field since they could only be detected in the hemisphere backward to the flight direction. Possible acceleration mechanisms for the relativistic particle population include magnetic field line reconnection at the front side of the magnetic pile-up region, induced electric fields and resonance processes of electrons with electrostatic lower hybrid waves or Langmuir waves. Also acceleration of ions and electrons by a quasiperpendicular shock formed downstream at the outbound bowshock must be considered.