scholarly journals Solar Wind ∼0.15–1.5 keV Electrons around Corotating Interaction Regions at 1 au

2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (2) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Jiawei Tao ◽  
Linghua Wang ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber ◽  
Chadi Salem ◽  
...  

Abstract Here we present a statistical study of the ∼0.15–1.5 keV suprathermal electrons observed in uncompressed/compressed slow and fast solar wind around 59 corotating interaction regions (CIRs) with good measurements by Wind 3DP from 1995 through 1997. For each of these CIRs, we fit the strahl and halo energy spectra at ∼0.15–1.5 keV to a Kappa function with a Kappa index κ and kinetic temperature T eff. We find that the ∼0.15–1.5 keV strahl electrons behave similarly in both slow and fast wind: the strahl number density n s positively correlates with the solar wind electron temperature T e and interplanetary magnetic field magnitude ∣B∣, while the strahl pitch angle width Θ s decreases with the solar wind speed V sw. These suggest that the strahl electrons are generated by a similar/same process at the Sun in both slow and fast wind that produces these correlations, and the scattering efficiency of strahl in the interplanetary medium (IPM) decreases with V sw. The ∼0.15–1.5 keV halo electrons also behave similarly in both slow and fast wind: the halo parameter positively correlates with the corresponding strahl parameter, and the halo number density n h positively correlates only with T e . These indicate that the halo formation process in the IPM retains most of the strahl properties, but it erases the relationship between n s and ∣B∣. In addition, κ in compressed wind distributes similarly to that in uncompressed wind, for both the strahl and halo. It shows that CIRs at 1 au are not a significant/effective acceleration source for the strahl and halo.

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S257) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaša Čalogović ◽  
Bojan Vršnak ◽  
Manuela Temmer ◽  
Astrid M. Veronig

AbstractWe analyzed the relationship between the ground-based modulation of cosmic rays (CR) and corotating interaction regions (CIRs). Daily averaged data from 8 different neutron monitor (NM) stations were used, covering rigidities from Rc = 0 − 12.91 GeV. The in situ solar wind data were taken from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) database, whereas the coronal hole (CH) areas were derived from the Solar X-Ray Imager onboard GOES-12. For the analysis we have chosen a period in the declining phase of solar cycle 23, covering the period 25 January–5 May 2005. During the CIR periods CR decreased typically from 0.5% to 2%. A cross-correlation analysis showed a distinct anti-correlation between the magnetic field and CR, with the correlation coefficient (r) ranging from −0.31 to −0.38 (mean: −0.36) and with the CR time delay of 2 to 3 days. Similar anti-correlations were found for the solar wind density and velocity characterized by the CR time lag of 4 and 1 day, respectively. The relationship was also established between the CR modulation and the area of the CIR-related CH with the CR time lag of 5 days after the central-meridian passage of CH.


2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. A130
Author(s):  
M. Lazar ◽  
V. Pierrard ◽  
S. Poedts ◽  
H. Fichtner

A suprathermal halo population of electrons is ubiquitous in space plasmas, as evidence of their departure from thermal equilibrium even in the absence of anisotropies. The origin, properties, and implications of this population, however, are poorly known. We provide a comprehensive description of solar wind halo electrons in the ecliptic, contrasting their evolutions with heliospheric distance in the slow and fast wind streams. At relatively low distances less than 1 AU, the halo parameters show an anticorrelation with the solar wind speed, but this contrast decreases with increasing distance and may switch to a positive correlation beyond 1 AU. A less monotonic evolution is characteristic of the high-speed winds, in which halo electrons and their properties (e.g., number densities, temperature, plasma beta) exhibit a progressive enhancement already distinguishable at about 0.5 AU. At this point, magnetic focusing of electron strahls becomes weaker and may be counterbalanced by the interactions of electrons with wave fluctuations. This evolution of halo electrons between 0.5 AU and 3.0 AU in the fast winds complements previous results well, indicating a substantial reduction of the strahl and suggesting that significant fractions of strahl electrons and energy may be redistributed to the halo population. On the other hand, properties of halo electrons at low distances in the outer corona suggest a subcoronal origin and a direct implication in the overheating of coronal plasma via velocity filtration.


1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1235-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Breen ◽  
W. A. Coles ◽  
R. R. Grall ◽  
M. T. Klinglesmith ◽  
J. Markkanen ◽  
...  

Abstract. EISCAT observations of interplanetary scintillation have been used to measure the velocity of the solar wind at distances between 15 and 130 R⊙ (solar radii) from the Sun. The results show that the solar wind consists of two distinct components, a fast stream with a velocity of ~800 km s–1 and a slow stream at ~400 km s–1. The fast stream appears to reach its final velocity much closer to the Sun than expected. The results presented here suggest that this is also true for the slow solar wind. Away from interaction regions the flow vector of the solar wind is purely radial to the Sun. Observations have been made of fast wind/slow wind interactions which show enhanced levels of scintillation in compression regions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1695-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Xiao ◽  
Q. Q. Shi ◽  
T. L. Zhang ◽  
S. Y. Fu ◽  
L. Li ◽  
...  

Abstract. Interplanetary linear magnetic holes (LMHs) are structures in which the magnetic field magnitude decreases with little change in the field direction. They are a 10–30% subset of all interplanetary magnetic holes (MHs). Using magnetic field and plasma measurements obtained by Cluster-C1, we surveyed the LMHs in the solar wind at 1 AU. In total 567 interplanetary LMHs are identified from the magnetic field data when Cluster-C1 was in the solar wind from 2001 to 2004. We studied the relationship between the durations and the magnetic field orientations, as well as that of the scales and the field orientations of LMHs in the solar wind. It is found that the geometrical structure of the LMHs in the solar wind at 1 AU is consistent with rotational ellipsoid and the ratio of scales along and across the magnetic field is about 1.93:1. In other words, the structure is elongated along the magnetic field at 1 AU. The occurrence rate of LMHs in the solar wind at 1 AU is about 3.7 per day. It is shown that not only the occurrence rate but also the geometrical shape of interplanetary LMHs has no significant change from 0.72 AU to 1 AU in comparison with previous studies. It is thus inferred that most of interplanetary LMHs observed at 1 AU are formed and fully developed before 0.72 AU. The present results help us to study the formation mechanism of the LMHs in the solar wind.


2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 949-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. T. Edberg ◽  
A. I. Eriksson ◽  
E. Odelstad ◽  
E. Vigren ◽  
D. J. Andrews ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 4532-4539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diptiranjan Rout ◽  
D. Chakrabarty ◽  
P. Janardhan ◽  
R. Sekar ◽  
Vrunda Maniya ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra Desai ◽  
Jonathan Eastwood ◽  
Joseph Eggington ◽  
Mervyn Freeman ◽  
Martin Archer ◽  
...  

<p>Fast-forward interplanetary interplanetary shocks, as occur at the forefront of interplanetary coronal mass ejections and at corotating interaction regions, can rapidly compress the magnetopause inside the drift paths of electrons and protons, and expose geosynchonous satellites directly to the solar wind.  Here, we use Gorgon Global-MHD simulations to study the response of the magnetopause to different fast-forward interplanetary shocks, with strengths extending from the median shocks observed during solar minimum up to that representing an extreme space weather event. The subsequent magnetopause response can be characterised by three distinct phases; an initial acceleration as inertial forces are overcome, a rapid compression well-represented by a power law, and large-scale damped oscillatory motion of the order of an Earth radius, prior to reaching pressure-balance equilibrium. The subsolar magnetopause is found to oscillate with notable frequencies in the range of 2–13 mHz over several periods of diminishing amplitudes.  These results provide an explanation for similar large-scale magnetopause oscillations observed previously during the extreme events of August 1972 and March 1991 and highlight why static magnetopause models break down during periods of strong solar wind driving.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew J. Owens ◽  
Matthew Lang ◽  
Pete Riley ◽  
Mike Lockwood ◽  
Amos S. Lawless

Advanced space-weather forecasting relies on the ability to accurately predict near-Earth solar wind conditions. For this purpose, physics-based, global numerical models of the solar wind are initialized with photospheric magnetic field and coronagraph observations, but no further observation constraints are imposed between the upper corona and Earth orbit. Data assimilation (DA) of the available in situ solar wind observations into the models could potentially provide additional constraints, improving solar wind reconstructions, and forecasts. However, in order to effectively combine the model and observations, it is necessary to quantify the error introduced by assuming point measurements are representative of the model state. In particular, the range of heliographic latitudes over which in situ solar wind speed measurements are representative is of primary importance, but particularly difficult to assess from observations alone. In this study we use 40+ years of observation-driven solar wind model results to assess two related properties: the latitudinal representivity error introduced by assuming the solar wind speed measured at a given latitude is the same as that at the heliographic equator, and the range of latitudes over which a solar wind measurement should influence the model state, referred to as the observational localisation. These values are quantified for future use in solar wind DA schemes as a function of solar cycle phase, measurement latitude, and error tolerance. In general, we find that in situ solar wind speed measurements near the ecliptic plane at solar minimum are extremely localised, being similar over only 1° or 2° of latitude. In the uniform polar fast wind above approximately 40° latitude at solar minimum, the latitudinal representivity error drops. At solar maximum, the increased variability of the solar wind speed at high latitudes means that the latitudinal representivity error increases at the poles, though becomes greater in the ecliptic, as long as moderate speed errors can be tolerated. The heliospheric magnetic field and solar wind density and temperature show very similar behaviour.


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