GBT19B-321

Studying the Ion Tail of Comet 2I/Borisov via radio scintillation

Abstract

For the occultation of compact extragalactic radio sources B1103-080, B1101-082, B1112-119, B1128-188, B1129-202, B1202-355, by the ion tail and coma of the interstellar comet, 2I/Borisov, during November to December 2019 we propose to take fast dynamic spectra at a rate of 1000 Hz at 342-, 800-MHz or L-band. This will allow a scintillation study of the electron density fluctuations in the ion tail and coma, leading to characterization of the plasma irregularities of this rare guest to the solar system. Our results will be compared to the properties of solar system comets.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Tapasi Ghosh	Green Bank Observatory
Amber Bonsall	Green Bank Observatory
Ryan Lynch	Green Bank Observatory
Christopher Salter	National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
SHIKHA RAIZADA	National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
Anish Roshi	National Radio Astronomy Observatory; National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
Periasamy Manoharan *	National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
phil perillat	National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center

* indicates the PI