The Heliospheric Termination Shock

TL;DR

This chapter reviews the properties, observations, and significance of the heliospheric Termination Shock, emphasizing its role in cosmic ray generation and its large-scale structure within the heliosphere.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive synthesis of observational data and theoretical understanding of the heliospheric Termination Shock, highlighting its importance in space physics.

Findings

The Termination Shock is the largest shock in the heliosphere.

It is responsible for generating the anomalous cosmic ray component.

Voyager data confirms the shock's properties and effects.

Abstract

The heliospheric Termination Shock is the largest (by dimension) shock in the heliosphere. It is believed that it is also the strongest shock and is responsible for the generation of the Anomalous Cosmic Ray component in the heliosphere. This chapter review the gross properties and observations of the Termination Shock. It is structured as follows: 1. The heliosphere, providing the heliospheric stage for Termination Shock formation, 2. The argument for a heliospheric Termination Shock, 3. The global heliospheric system, 4. Termination Shock properties, 5. Observations: the Voyager passages, radio observations, plasma waves and electron beams, traces of plasma and magnetic field, energetic particles, galactic cosmic rays, Termination Shock particles, the anomalous cosmic ray component, 6. Conclusions.