Charge exchange in cometary coma: Discovery of H− ions in the solar wind close to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Abstract

As Rosetta was orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Ion and Electron Sensor detected negative particles with angular distributions like those of the concurrently measured solar wind protons but with fluxes of only about 10% of the proton fluxes and energies of about 90% of the proton energies. Using well-known cross sections and energy-loss data, it is determined that the fluxes and energies of the negative particles are consistent with the production of H− ions in the solar wind by double charge exchange with molecules in the coma.