Local Interstellar Cloud

Abstract: Observations and theoretical models of the local interstellar medium (LISM), defined as the region within a column density contour of 10 to the 19th H atoms/sq cm, are reviewed. The existence and nature of the Local Bubble and its boundary are examined; and consideration is given to the LISM as an active supernova remnant, confined bubbles, theoretical models of the LISM, cavity geometry, clouds within the Local Bubble, solar-backscatter and other observations of local clouds, ionization mechanisms in clouds, and the implications of clouds for the evolution of the LISM.

Abstract: Singly-ionized helium with a velocity distribution extending up to double the solar wind velocity has been detected in interplanetary space. This distribution unambiguously determines the source: interstellar neutrals, ionized and accelerated in the solar wind. The observed significant flux increase in early December is due to the gravitational focusing of the interstellar neutral wind on the downwind side of the Sun.

Abstract: The GAS-instrument onboard the space probe Ulysses is designed to measure the local angular distribution of the flow of interstellar neutral He-atoms within 3 AU distance from the sun. It allows to infer the kinetic parameters (velocity vector, temperature and density) of these particles outside the heliosphere (at infinity). During three observational periods, 1990/1991, shortly after launch and during the two fast latitude scans of Ulysses, from 9/1994 to 8/1996 and from 9/2000 to 8/2002, more than 300 measurements of the distributions were obtained and analyzed in detail. Known issues that relate to the pointing accuracy of the detector and to the efficiency calibration along with their impact on the results are addressed in this paper. The average values, derived from these observations and their refined analysis, are the bulk speed (v He ∞ = 26.3 ± 0.4 km s -1 ), the flow direction (ecliptic longitude λ∞ = 74.7° ± 0.5°, ecliptic latitude β∞ = -5.2° ± 0.2°) and temperature (T He ∞ = 6300 K ± 340 K). From 1990 to 2002, covering a complete solar cycle, no significant temporal variations of these parameters were observed, nor variations with solar latitude. In contrast, in the density n He ∞, derived from the series of local observations along the Ulysses-orbit, substantial apparent variations were seen. After a first attempt to explain these by an inadequate energy calibration of the efficiency they are now interpreted as variations in the loss processes (predominantly photo-ionization), which the neutral gas experiences along its trajectory to the observer. While the temporal variations of the ionization rate were taken into account using the measured solar EUV irradiance (from CELIAS/SEM on SOHO), the residual latitudinal variation has been attributed to a dependence of the solar irradiance on latitude, which thus far has not been accessible to direct observations. As a result of a simple model that includes these effects a density n He ∞ = 0.015 t 0.003 cm -3 has been deduced, which is in good agreement with an independent result from pickup ion observations.

Abstract: We present a comprehensive survey of CII* absorption detections toward stars within 100 pc in order to measure the distribution of electron densities present in the local interstellar medium (LISM). Using high spectral resolution observations of nearby stars obtained by GHRS and STIS onboard the Hubble Space Telescope, we identify 13 sight lines with 23 individual CII* absorption components, which provide electron density measurements, the vast majority of which are new. We employ several strategies to determine more accurate CII column densities from the saturated CII resonance line, including, constraints of the line width from the optically thin CII* line, constraints from independent temperature measurements of the LISM gas based on line widths of other ions, and third, using measured SII column densities as a proxy for CII column densities. The sample of electron densities appears consistent with a log-normal distribution and an unweighted mean value of n_e(CII_SII) = 0.11^+0.10_-0.05 cm^-3. Seven individual sight lines probe the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC), and all present a similar value for the electron density, with a weighted mean of n_e(LIC) = 0.12 +/- 0.04 cm^-3. The Hyades Cloud, a decelerated cloud at the leading edge of the platoon of LISM clouds, has a significantly higher electron density than the LIC. Observed toward G191-B2B, the high electron density may be caused by the lack of shielding from such a strong radiation source. Given some simple assumptions, the range of observed electron densities translates into a range of thermal pressures, P/k = 3300^+5500_-1900 K cm^-3. This work greatly expands the number of electron density measurements and provides important constraints on the ionization, abundance, and evolutionary models of the local interstellar medium. (abridged)