Influence of Coulomb collisions on isotopic and elemental fractionation in the solar wind acceleration process

2000 ◽  
Vol 105 (A1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Bodmer ◽  
Peter Bochsler
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Acceleration Process ◽  
Coulomb Collisions ◽  
Elemental Fractionation ◽  
Solar Wind Acceleration

Elemental Fractionation in the Slow Solar Wind

1999 ◽  
Vol 521 (2) ◽  
pp. 859-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Schwadron ◽  
L. A. Fisk ◽  
T. H. Zurbuchen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Slow Solar Wind ◽  
Elemental Fractionation

Large-scale Structure and Turbulence Transport in the Young Solar Wind – Comparison of Parker Solar Probe Observations with a Global 3D Reynolds-averaged MHD Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohit Chhiber ◽  
Arcadi Usmanov ◽  
William Matthaeus ◽  
Melvyn Goldstein ◽  
Riddhi Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transport Equations ◽  
Turbulence Energy ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Coulomb Collisions ◽  
Flow Equations ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Turbulence Transport

<div>Simulation results from a global <span>magnetohydrodynamic</span> model of the solar corona and the solar wind are compared with Parker Solar <span>Probe's</span> (<span>PSP</span>) observations during its first several orbits. The fully three-dimensional model (<span>Usmanov</span> <span>et</span> <span>al</span>., 2018, <span>ApJ</span>, 865, 25) is based on Reynolds-averaged mean-flow equations coupled with turbulence transport equations. The model accounts for effects of electron heat conduction, Coulomb collisions, Reynolds stresses, and heating of protons and electrons via nonlinear turbulent cascade. Turbulence transport equations for turbulence energy, cross <span>helicity</span>, and correlation length are solved concurrently with the mean-flow equations. We specify boundary conditions at the coronal base using solar synoptic <span>magnetograms</span> and calculate plasma, magnetic field, and turbulence parameters along the <span>PSP</span> trajectory. We also accumulate data from all orbits considered, to obtain the trends observed as a function of heliocentric distance. Comparison of simulation results with <span>PSP</span> data show general agreement. Finally, we generate synthetic fluctuations constrained by the local rms turbulence amplitude given by the model, and compare properties of this synthetic turbulence with PSP observations.</div>

Proton Beam Abundance Variations and Their Relation to Alpha Particle Properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Tereza Ďurovcová ◽  
Jana Šafránková ◽  
Zdeněk Němeček
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Proton Beam ◽  
Alpha Particle ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Radial Distance ◽  
Alpha Particles ◽  
Momentum Balance ◽  
Particle Interactions ◽  
Coulomb Collisions ◽  
Particle Properties

Abstract Less abundant but still dynamically important solar wind components are the proton beam and alpha particles, which usually contribute similarly to the total ion momentum. The main characteristics of alpha particles are determined by the solar wind source region, but the origin of the proton beam and its properties are still not fully explained. We use the plasma data measured in situ on the path from 0.3 to 1 au (Helios 1 and 2) and focus on the proton beam development with an increasing radial distance as well as on the connection between the proton beam and alpha particle properties. We found that the proton beam relative abundance increases with increasing distance from the Sun in the collisionally young streams. Among the mechanisms suggested for beam creation, we have identified the wave–particle interactions with obliquely propagating Alfvén modes being consistent with observations. As the solar wind streams get collisionally older, the proton beam decay gradually dominates and the beam abundance is reduced. In search for responsible mechanisms, we found that the content of alpha particles is correlated with the proton beam abundance, and this effect is more pronounced in the fast solar wind streams during the solar maximum. We suggest that Coulomb collisions are the main agent leading to merging of the proton beam and core. We are also showing that the variations of the proton beam abundance are correlated with a decrease of the alpha particle velocity in order to maintain the total momentum balance in the solar wind frame.

scholarly journals Solar Wind Helium Abundance Heralds Solar Cycle Onset

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin L Alterman ◽  
Justin C Kasper ◽  
Robert J Leamon ◽  
Scott W McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Sunspot Number ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Phase Lag ◽  
Helium Abundance ◽  
Solar Cycles ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Solar Wind Acceleration ◽  
Solar Cycle Length

Abstract We study the solar wind helium-to-hydrogen abundance's ( A He ) relationship to solar cycle onset. Using OMNI/Lo data, we show that A He increases prior to sunspot number (SSN) minima. We also identify a rapid depletion and recovery in A He that occurs directly prior to cycle onset. This A He Shutoff happens at approximately the same time across solar wind speeds ( v sw ) and the time between successive A He shutoffs is typically on the order of the corresponding solar cycle length. In contrast to A He 's v sw -dependent phase lag with respect to SSN (Alterman and Kasper, 2019), A He Shutoff's concurrence across v sw likely implies it is independent of solar wind acceleration and driven by a mechanism near or below the photosphere. Using Brightpoint (BP) measurements to provide context, we infer that this shutoff is likely related to the overlap of adjacent solar cycles and the equatorial flux cancelation of the older, extended solar cycle during solar minima.

Coulomb collisions in the solar wind

1985 ◽  
Vol 90 (A8) ◽  
pp. 7389-7395 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Klein ◽  
K. W. Ogilvie ◽  
L. F. Burlaga
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Coulomb Collisions

The formation and evolution of the electron strahl in the inner heliosphere

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong-Yeop Jeong ◽  
Daniel Verscharen ◽  
Vocks Christian ◽  
Christopher Owen ◽  
Robert Wicks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Velocity Distribution Function ◽  
Electron Velocity ◽  
Electron Velocity Distribution ◽  
Electron Velocity Distribution Function ◽  
Coulomb Collisions ◽  
Spiral Geometry ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Radial Evolution ◽  
Inner Heliosphere

<p>The electrons in the solar wind exhibit an interesting kinetic substructure with many important implications for the overall energetics of the plasma in the heliosphere. We are especially interested in the formation and evolution of the electron strahl, a field-aligned beam of superthermal electrons, in the heliosphere. We develop a kinetic transport equation for typical heliospheric conditions based on a Parker-spiral geometry of the magnetic field. We present the results of our theoretical model for the radial evolution of the electron velocity distribution function (VDF) in the solar wind. We study the effects of the adiabatic focusing of energetic electrons, wave-particle interactions, and Coulomb collisions through a generalized kinetic equation for the electron VDF. We compare and contrast our results with the observed effects in the electron VDFs from space missions that explore the radial evolution of electrons in the inner heliosphere such as Helios, Parker Solar Probe, and Solar Orbiter.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document