Journal article
Parker Solar Probe Observations of a Flux Rope Embedded in a Near-Sun Heliospheric Current Sheet Magnetic Reconnection Exhaust
The Astrophysical journal, Vol.1002(2), 125
05/10/2026
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae5e62
Abstract
In situ observations by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) suggest that the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) undergoes near-continuous magnetic reconnection close to the Sun, in stark contrast to scarce observations of this phenomenon in the HCS at 1 au. Situated at the boundary between sectors of opposite interplanetary magnetic field polarity, reconnection in the HCS has important consequences for magnetic topology and plasma dynamics in the slow solar wind. We report observations of a reconnection outflow in the HCS near the Alfv & eacute;n transition region in PSP's 17th solar encounter, featuring plasma jetting, proton temperature enhancement, and electron heat flux dropout. Embedded within the exhaust is a non-force-free flux rope plasmoid exhibiting counterstreaming strahl electrons, indicating connection at both ends to the Sun in an otherwise disconnected region of the magnetic field. The flux rope features diminished isotropic proton temperature and lower bulk speed compared to the remainder of the HCS exhaust. Its oblique orientation and different plasma properties imply that the flux rope originates from a different reconnection site to the HCS exhaust, suggesting PSP has intercepted a flux-rope-like streamer blob produced at the helmet streamer. Remote observations show several comparable blobs traveling in a distant coronal ray, demonstrating the possibility that the in situ flux rope is a streamer blob. The combination of in situ and remote observations demonstrates the role of magnetic reconnection in HCS dynamics, contributing to a growing understanding of this fundamental mechanism and its impact on the young solar wind.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Parker Solar Probe Observations of a Flux Rope Embedded in a Near-Sun Heliospheric Current Sheet Magnetic Reconnection Exhaust
- Creators
- Harry C Lewis - Imperial College LondonJonathan P. Eastwood - Imperial Coll London, Dept Phys, London SW7 2AZ, EnglandTai D. Phan - Univ Calif Berkeley, Space Sci Lab, Berkeley, CA USANais Fargette - CNRS, Inst Rech Astrophys & Planetol, CNES, F-31400 Toulouse, FranceStuart D. Bale - Univ Calif Berkeley, Space Sci Lab, Berkeley, CA USAMark Linton - US Naval Res Lab, Washington, DC 20375 USASamuel T. Badman - Smithsonian InstitutionJasper S. Halekas - Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAEtienne Berriot - CY Cergy Paris Univ, Sorbonne Univ, Univ Paris Cite, Univ PSL,CNRS,LIRA,Observ Paris, F-92190 Meudon, FranceMichael L. Stevens - Smithsonian InstitutionJoseph H. Wang - Imperial Coll London, Dept Phys, London SW7 2AZ, England
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Astrophysical journal, Vol.1002(2), 125
- DOI
- 10.3847/1538-4357/ae5e62
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- eISSN
- 1538-4357
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing Ltd
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- 975569 / SI divided by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) NNG11EK11I / DOD divided by USN divided by ONR divided by U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) NNN06AA01C / National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) ST/W001071/1 / UKRI divided by Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC); UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/10/2026
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9985161444702771
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