On the origin of the magnetic field in type-1 comet tails: a reply to Ershkovich

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Abstract
Ershkovich has recently argued for an ‘external’ origin of the magnetic field in type-1 comet-tails. While we agree with that point of view we disagree with the author's contention that the magnitude of this field is not significantly larger than the solar wind value. Observations of the folding rate of the tail rays indicate a substantial amplification of the solar wind field in the cometary tail, leading to typical values of the order of 100 γ close to the tail axis at 1 AU. Such fields may prevent the distant tail from being Kelvin–Helmholtz unstable.

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