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Cometary H₂ ⁺ and solar wind He²⁺ dynamics across the Halley cometopause

Balsiger, H.; Geiss, J.; Ip, W. -H. +4 more

Two Mass/Charge (M/Q) ≈ 2 distributions were observed by the Giotto Ion Mass Spectrometer/High Energy Range Spectrometer (IMS/HERS) during the encounter with comet Halley. The first, present throughout the encounter, is identified as solar wind He²⁺. The second, detectable only within ∼6 × 10⁵ km of the nucleus, is identified…