Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Local interstellar medium

Abstract

NEUTRAL interstellar hydrogen can be prevented from penetrating freely into the heliosphere of solar plasma, because it is partially coupled to the subsonic flow of interstellar plasma. Results from modelling the backscattering of the diffuse Lyman-α radiation are therefore unreliable. The interstellar density of H+ is probably 0.02 cm−3 or less, and the density of neutral hydrogen greater than 0.2 cm−3.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dalgarno, A., and McCray, R. A., A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys., 10, 375 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rose, W. K., and Wentzel, D. G., Astrophys. J., 181, 115 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Savage, B. D., and Jenkins, E. B., Astrophys. J., 172, 491 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Macchetto, F., and Panagia, N., Astr. Astrophys., 28, 313 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wallis, M. K., Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., 167, 103 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fahr, H. J., Space Sci. Revs, 15, 483 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Thomas, G. E., in Exploration of the outer solar system, paper 73–547, (Am. geophys. Union, Denver, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Axford, W. I., Solar Wind, SP-308, 609 NASA (1972).

  9. Baranov, V. B., and Krasnobayev, K. V., Gidromekhanika, 7, 5 (Moscow 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wallis, M. K., Astrophys. Space. Sci., 20, 3 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Brook, J. W., and Hamel, B. B., Phys. Fluids, 15, 1898 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Spreiter, J. R., Summers, A. L., and Alksne, A. Y., Planet. Space Sci., 14, 223 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hayes, W. D., and Probstein, R. F., Hypersonic flow theory I: Inviscid Flows (Academic, 1966).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Patterson, T. N. L., Johnson, F. S., and Hanson, W. B., Planet. Space Sci., 11, 767 (1963).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WALLIS, M. Local interstellar medium. Nature 254, 202–203 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254202a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254202a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing