Journal article
Parker Solar Probe Observations of High Plasma β Solar Wind from the Streamer Belt
The Astrophysical journal. Supplement series, Vol.265(2), 47
03/29/2023
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/acbcd2
Abstract
Abstract In general, slow solar wind from the streamer belt forms a high plasma β equatorial plasma sheet around the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) crossing, namely, the heliospheric plasma sheet (HPS). Current Parker Solar Probe (PSP) observations show that the HCS crossings near the Sun could be full or partial current sheet (PCS) crossings, and they share some common features but also have different properties. In this work, using the PSP observations from encounters 4–10, we identify streamer belt solar wind from enhancements in plasma β, and we further use electron pitch angle distributions to separate it into HPS solar wind around the full HCS crossings and PCS solar wind in the vicinity of PCS crossings. Based on our analysis, we find that the PCS solar wind has different characteristics as compared with HPS solar wind: (a) the PCS solar wind could be non-pressure-balanced structures rather than magnetic holes, and the total pressure enhancement mainly results from the less reduced magnetic pressure; (b) some of the PCS solar wind is mirror-unstable; and (c) the PCS solar wind is dominated by very low helium abundance but varied alpha–proton differential speed. We suggest that the PCS solar wind could originate from coronal loops deep inside the streamer belt, and it is pristine solar wind that still actively interacts with ambient solar wind; thus, it is valuable for further investigations of the heating and acceleration of slow solar wind.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Parker Solar Probe Observations of High Plasma β Solar Wind from the Streamer Belt
- Creators
- Jia Huang - University of California, BerkeleyJ. C. Kasper - University of MichiganDavin E. Larson - University of California, BerkeleyMichael D. McManus - University of California, BerkeleyP. Whittlesey - University of California, BerkeleyRoberto Livi - University of California, BerkeleyAli Rahmati - University of California, BerkeleyOrlando Romeo - University of California, BerkeleyK. G. Klein - University of ArizonaWeijie Sun - University of MichiganBart van der Holst - University of MichiganZhenguang Huang - University of MichiganLan K. Jian - HeliophysicsAdam Szabo - HeliophysicsJ. L. Verniero - HeliophysicsC. H. K. Chen - Queen Mary University of LondonB. Lavraud - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieMingzhe Liu - Observatoire de ParisSamuel T. Badman - Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryTatiana Niembro - Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryKristoff Paulson - Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryM. Stevens - Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryA. W. Case - Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryMarc Pulupa - University of California, BerkeleyStuart D. Bale - University of California, BerkeleyJ. S. Halekas - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Astrophysical journal. Supplement series, Vol.265(2), 47
- DOI
- 10.3847/1538-4365/acbcd2
- ISSN
- 0067-0049
- eISSN
- 1538-4365
- Publisher
- American Astronomical Society
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: 80NSSC22K1017
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/29/2023
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984530271502771
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