The interaction of comet 153P/Ikeya-Zhang with interplanetary coronal mass ejections: Identification of fast ICME signatures

Abstract

The active comet 153P/Ikeya-Zhang possessed a highly-variable plasma tail. Favorable circumstances allowed the identification of the impact of fast ICMEs with the comet. The impact produces a specific morphology including a characteristic scalloped appearance which suggests that the ICME magnetic field drapes around preexisting tail density enhancements. This appears to be the first direct association between fast ICMEs and plasma tail structure and the specific structure should permit the identification of fast ICME locations in the heliosphere.