Effects of a Local Interstellar Magnetic Field on Voyager 1 and 2 Observations

The essentials

• The paper explores the impact of an interstellar magnetic field on the solar wind termination shock observed by Voyager 1 and 2.
• The authors suggest that such a magnetic field can create a north/south asymmetry in the shock with an angle $\alpha$ between the interstellar wind velocity and magnetic field of $30^{\circ} < \alpha < 60^{\circ}$ based on measurements from both spacecraft.
• The distortion of the shock caused by this magnetic field allows for termination shock particles to stream outward along the spiral interplanetary magnetic field connecting Voyager 1 to the shock when it is within approximately 2 astronomical units (AU) of the shock.
• This effect is more pronounced in the southern hemisphere, where Voyager 2 could be connected to the shock when it is within approximately 5 AU of it. In this case, particles from the shock would stream inward along the field.
• Tighter constraints on the interstellar magnetic field should be possible when Voyager 2 crosses the shock in the next several years.
• Even small variations in interstellar conditions can have significant effects on our understanding of solar wind dynamics and provide valuable insights into how our heliosphere interacts with its surroundings.
• By studying these effects through observations made by both Voyagers 1 and 2, researchers are able to gain a better understanding of how our heliosphere interacts with its environment and what influences its shape and size over time.

Key points written by AI: they may contain errors, check them against the paper.