Citation
Abstract
The Faraday rotation of the Pioneer 9 S-band signal was measured during the December 1970 solar occultation using the NASA/JPL 64-m Goldstone antenna. Steady-state Faraday rotation was significant over the region of 4-12 solar radii, reaching a maximum value of about 100 deg at 4 solar radii. Two transient Faraday rotation events were observed and related to solar phenomena. The Pioneer 9 steady-state Faraday rotation was similar to that observed during the November 1968 Pioneer 6 solar occultation. The first Pioneer 9 transient appears to be of the same form, magnitude, and duration as the three remarkable W-shaped Pioneer 6 transient events. The second Pioneer 9 transient was smaller in amplitude, had an S-shaped curve of longer duration, and in general was unlike the previous events. These two events occurred at approximately 6 solar radii. The Pioneer 6 observations did not extend beyond 12 solar radii, while Pioneer 9 was tracked to approximately 64 solar radii. No transient events were observed in this outer region.
Details
- Volume
- XVI
- Published
- August 15, 1973
- Pages
- 87–93
- File Size
- 665.2 KB