IBEX RIBBON: WHAT COULD IT TELL ABOUT THE LOCAL INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELD?

We show that the shape of the IBEX Ribbon can be reproduced assuming energetic neutral atoms originate in regions beyond the heliopause where the interstellar magnetic field is the strongest and perpendicular to radial directions from the Sun. The best fit to the observed ribbon was obtained for the local interstellar magnetic field B-infinity = 3.0 +/- 1.0 mu G pointing from ecliptic/galactic coordinates (lambda, beta)/(l, b) = (225 degrees +/- 5 degrees, 35 degrees +/- 5 degrees)/(27 degrees +/- 5 degrees, 51 degrees +/- 5 degrees) close to the apparent ribbon center (lambda, beta)/(l, b) = (221 degrees, 39 degrees)/(33 degrees, 55 degrees). The geometrical considerations presented below should prove useful in identifying the mechanism of ribbon formation.