The local interstellar spectrum beyond the heliopause: What can be learned from Voyager in the inner heliosheath?

Abstract

The local interstellar spectrum (LIS) is one of the most important but unknown parameters used in all modeling efforts to describe the modulation of Galactic cosmic rays on their way from the galaxy through a possible bow shock, heliosheath, and heliosphere toward the Earth. Because it has not been measured thus far, several LIS models derived from numerical simulations or data on Earth were developed. A new method to determine the LIS was introduced when the Voyager spacecraft crossed the termination shock and entered the heliosheath. Webber & Higbie derived a new LIS, which is lower than all previous LIS models over the entire energy range, on the basis of these measurements. Numerical simulations by Scherer et al. showed that particles already in the outer heliosheath (OHS) are modulated, suggesting that the LIS by Webber & Higbie is a heliopause spectrum (HPS) rather than the "true" LIS. By using the same simplified simulation model, we estimate the diffusion coefficient in the OHS to be consistent with several 1026 to 10 27 cm2 s-1 for all LIS models under consideration by mapping them to this HPS and conclude that the Voyager measurements will not be able to determine the LIS in the near future. We then discuss the circumstances under which the terrestrial archive can be used to at least exclude LIS models, unless one awaits a dedicated mission like e.g., the Interstellar Probe. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.