Corotating structure in the solar wind

The hydrodynamic equations which describe the radial solar wind expansion are linearized and specialized to treat corotating perturbations. Approximate solutions are found which are time stationary in the corotating reference frame. The solutions predict the behavior of corotating structures for a given boundary condition close to the sun. In particular, the structure resulting from the interaction of fast and slow streams is described. Comparison with sector structure data shows reasonable qualitative and quantitative agreement.     

Velocity structure and variations in the region of quiet solar filaments

We study the velocity fields in the region of quiet solar filaments using spectral observations at the Sayan Solar Observatory (ISTP, Irkutsk). Once the series of spectral images have been processed, maps of the two-dimensional distribution of the velocity and its variations in the chromosphere (in the Hβ λ = 486.13 nm line) and the photosphere (in the Fe I λ = 486.37 nm line) are constructed. The motions in the filaments have been found to consist of steady and periodic components. Our analysis of the spatial distributions of various oscillation modes shows that the short-period (<10 min) oscillations propagate mainly vertically and are observed at the filament edges, on scales of several arcseconds. The quasi-hour (>40 min) oscillations propagate mostly along the filament at a small angle to its axis. The intensity in the Hβ core in individual fragments of some filaments varies with a period of about one hour. The observed velocity structures in the filaments and the imbalance of steady motions on the opposite sides of the filaments can be explained in terms of the model of a twisted fine-structure magnetic flux tube.     

The hydrogen balmer lines and the structure of the quiet solar chromosphere

Spectra of Hα, Hβ and Hδ have been taken under good seeing conditions with the vacuum tower telescope of Sacramento Peak Observatory. Intensity curves are given at various wavelengths in these lines to permit further comparison with a theoretical model. Moreover, considering in each case the range of height in which the lines are almost optically thin and using a few approximations, the following results are derived: between 2000 and 6000 km above the limb the average thermal + turbulent velocity of the atoms is found to increase from 20 km s^?1 to 30 km s^?1 and the mean number of hydrogen atoms per cm³ in level 2 is given by $$\log n_2 {\text{ = }}4.5{\text{ }} - {\text{ 0}}{\text{.00056(}}z - 2000)$$ z being the altitude above the limb in km. For line profile computations a new interpolation formula is presented; it gives good profiles with a small number of scans, saving microphotometer time.     

The solar wind and the temperature-density structure of the solar corona

The influence of the solar wind on large-scale temperature and density distributions in the lower corona is studied. This influence is most profoundly felt through its effect upon the geometry of coronal magnetic fields since the presence of expansion divides the corona into magnetically open and closed regions. Each of these regions is governed by entirely different energy transport processes. This results in significant temperature differences since only the open field regions suffer outward conductive heat losses. Because the temperature influences the density in an exponential manner, large density inhomogeneities are to be expected.An approximate method for calculating the temperature and density distribution in a known magnetic field geometry is outlined and numerical estimates are carried out for representative coronal conditions. These estimates show that temperature differences of a factor of about two and density differences of ten can be expected in the lower corona even for uniform base conditions. As a result, we do not regard the so-called coronal holes necessairly as locations of reduced mechanical heating. Alternatively, we suggest that they are regions of open magnetic field lines being continuously drained of energy contert by the solar wind expansion and outward thermal conduction.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

On the stability of the solar wind

The stability of the solar wind is studied in the case of spherical symmetry and constant temperature. It is shown that the stability problem must be formulated as a mixed initial and boundary-value problem in which are prescribed the perturbation values of velocity and density at an initial time and additionally the velocity perturbation at the base of the corona for all times. The solution is constructed by linear superposition of normal solutions, which contain the time only in an exponential factor. The stability problem becomes a singular eigenvalue problem for the amplitudes of the velocity and pressure perturbations, since additionally to the boundary condition at the base of the corona one must add the condition that the amplitudes behave regularly at the critical point. It is proved that only stable eigenvalues exist.     

On the magnetic structure of the quiet transition region

Existing models of the quiet chromosphere-corona transition region predict a distribution of emission measure over temperature that agrees with observation for T 10⁵ K. These network models assume that all magnetic field lines that emerge from the photosphere extend into and are in thermal contact with the corona. We show that the observed fine-scale structure of the photospheric magnetic network instead suggests a two-component picture in which magnetic funnels that open into the corona emerge from only a fraction of the network. The gas that makes up the hotter transition region is mostly contained within these funnels, as in standard models, but, because the funnels are more constricted in our picture, the heat flowing into the cooler transition region from the corona is reduced by up to an order of magnitude. The remainder of the network is occupied by a population of low-lying loops with lengths 10⁴ km. We propose that the cooler transition region is mainly located within such loops, which are magnetically insulated from the corona and must, therefore, be heated internally. The fine-scale structure of ultraviolet spectroheliograms is consistent with this proposal, and theoretical models of internally heated loops can explain the behavior of the emission measure below T 10⁵ K.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Heating of the quiet solar chromosphere

We have analyzed a large number of Caii H line profiles at the sites of the bright points in the interior of the network using a 35-min-long time sequence of spectra obtained at the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) of the Sacramento Peak Observatory on a quiet regon of the solar disc and studied the dynamical processes associated with these structures. Our analysis shows that the profiles can be grouped into three classes in terms of their evolutionary behaviour. It is surmized that the differences in their behaviour are directly linked with the inner network photospheric magnetic points to which they have been observed to bear a spatial correspondence. The light curves of these bright points give the impression that the main pulse, which is the upward propagating disturbance carrying energy, throws the medium within the bright point into a resonant mode of oscillation that is seen as the follower pulses. The main pulse as well as the follower pulses have identical periods of intensity oscillations, with a mean value around 190 ± 20 s. We show that the energy transported by these main pulses at the sites of the bright points over the entire visible solar surface can account for a substantial fraction of the radiative loss from the quiet chromosphere, according to current models.     

On the effect of latitude dependent base conditions on the structure of the solar wind

The isothermal solar wind equations are solved for the case where the coronal conditions vary with latitude. It is found that the solutions are not uniquely determined by the base density but require knowledge of the injection angle of the fluid. Even for the case of spherically symmetric density at the corona, the solutions are not unique and form a one parameter set, but the latitude variation decreases rapidly with increasing heliocentric distance.     

On the history of the solar wind discovery

The discovery of the solar wind has been an outstanding achievement in heliophysics and space physics. The solar wind plays a crucial role in the processes taking place in the Solar System. In recent decades, it has been recognized as the main factor that controls the terrestrial effects of space weather. The solar wind is an unusual plasma laboratory of giant scale with a fantastic diversity of parameters and operating modes, and devoid of influence from the walls of laboratory plasma systems. It is also the only kind of stellar wind accessible for direct study. The history of this discovery is quite dramatic. Like many remarkable discoveries, it had several predecessors. However, the honor of a discovery usually belongs to a scientist who was able to more fully explain the phenomenon. Such a man is deservedly considered the US theorist Eugene Parker, who discovered the solar wind, as we know it today, almost “with the point of his pen”. In 2017, we will celebrate the 90^th anniversary birthday of Eugene Parker.     

On neutral sheets in the solar wind

The structure and dynamics of neutral sheets in the solar wind is examined. The internal magnetic topology of the sheet is argued to be that of thin magnetic tongues greatly distended outward by the expansion inside the sheet. Due to finite conductivity effects, outward flow takes place across field lines but is retarded relative to the ambient solar wind by the reverse J×B force. The sheet thickness as well as the internal transverse magnetic field are found to be proportional to the electrical conductivity to the inverse one third power. Estimating a conductivity appropriate for a current carried largely by the ions perpendicular to the magnetic field, we find sheet dimensions of the order of 500km representative for the inner solar corona. For a radial field of strength 1/2G at 2R , the transverse field there is about 2 × 10^–3G and decreases outward rapidly.The energy release in the form of Joulean dissipation inside the sheet is estimated. It is concluded that ohmic heating in current sheets is not a significant source of energy for the overall solar wind expansion, mainly because these structures occupy only a small percentage of the total coronal volume. However, the local energy release through this mechanism is found to be large - in fact, over 7 times that expected to be supplied by thermal conduction. Therefore, ohmic heating is probably a dominant energy source for the dynamical conditions within the sheet itself.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Solution of one-fluid model equations with short range retarding magnetic forces for the quiet solar wind

The discrepancy of the low predicted versus the observed coronal particle densities is investigated by considering radial magnetic forces acting at the base of the corona in the one fluid model equations with anomalous thermal conductivity for the quiet solar wind. If the short range retarding magnetic force is taken to fall asr ^?5,r being the heliocentric distance, then in order to obtain satisfactory agreement between the predicted and observed (about 3×10⁸ cm^?3 at 1R _⊙) coronal densities, the strength of the retarding magnetic force at 1R _⊙ should be 1.2 times that of the gravitational force.     

A model of the quiet solar atmosphere

The solar atmosphere may be divided into a number of isolated active components and a quiet residue. On the largest scale the latter is dominated by a general dipole magnetic field of strength 1–2 G; its observable components are flux concentrations in supergranule boundary regions (SBRs), spicules, mottles and polar plumes. The velocity field in the SBRs is discussed. There are continuous gas streaming motions up and down between the photosphere and the corona; spicules may be mainly downward moving gas.A unifying model is developed of these various components, as well as the heating mechanism of the whole quiet atmosphere. Highly ordered velocity fields of the cell, together with a gravitational wave, cause a vertical magnetic force tube to collapse below a critical level; the result is an upward eruption of a vortex ring at the Alfvén velocity. The complex mass velocity pattern may explain spicules, mottles and plumes, as well as unobservable streaming motions.The quiet atmosphere is divided into regions above SBRs and those above the inner parts of the cells. Hydromagnetic eruptions from the former may account for the entire heat requirement of the atmosphere. The model atmosphere has a chromosphere-corona transition layer which bulges upwards above the SBRs and so conforms with EUV data. The energy and mass balances in this solar atmosphere are considered, and it is also shown to be consistent with the radio data.     

On the north-south asymmetry in the solar wind

The orientations of tangential discontinuities seen by Mariner 4 are interpreted as implying a sector dependent asymmetry in the north-south component of the solar-wind flow. In two sectors, fast solar wind streams had a southward motion relative to slow streams, in one sector the reverse obtained, and in the remaining sector the asymmetry was not clearly defined. We interpret this as being due to greater pressure in the north hemisphere in two sectors and greater pressure in the south hemisphere in one. It is possible this asymmetry could produce a small average southward magnetic field component.     

Three-dimensional structure of the solar wind: Variation of density with the solar cycle

Interplanetary Scintillation (IPS) measurements obtained from a large number of compact radio sources (nearly 150 sources) distributed over the heliocentric distance range 15–175 solar radii (R() and heliographic latitude 75° N-75° S have been used to study the global three-dimensional density distribution of the solar wind plasma. Contours of constant electron-density fluctuations (N _e) in the heliospheric plasma obtained for both the solar minimum and maximum show a strong solar latitude dependence. During low solar activity, the equatorial density-fluctuation value decreases away from the equator towards higher latitudes and is reduced by 2.5 times at the poles; the level of turbulence is reduced by a factor of 7; the solar-wind mass flux density at the poles is 25% lower than the equatorial value. However, during high solar activity, the average distribution of density fluctuations becomes spherically symmetric. In the ecliptic, the variation of N _e with the heliocentric distance follows a power law of the formR ^–2.2 and it does not show any change with solar activity.     

Multi-spacecraft observations of heliographic structure of the solar wind speed

Multi-spacecraft observations in the interplanetary space are used to build up a picture of the distribution of solar wind velocities in heliographic latitude and longitude. Analyses are made for the solar wind data obtained by Sakigake, Suisei, IMP-8 and Giotto between late 1985 and early 1987. Until Janaury 1986, high-speed streams were extended across the equator from the high latitudes of the heliosphere. After March 1986, high-speed streams were rarely seen on the equator. Although there remained a slight wavy pattern in latitude-longitude structure, low-speed streams were basically ranged along the equator. After January 1987, the amplitude of this wavy pattern was further diminished and low-speed regions were completely aligned to the equator.     

Wave propagation in the quiet solar chromosphere

In order to precise previous results about wave propagation in the quiet chromosphere (N. Mein and P. Mein, 1976), we study the behaviour of Doppler shifts and intensity fluctuations in 3 lines of Ca ii. We use the same observation as in our previous work, that is to say a sequence of spectra lasting 27 mn, taken at Sacramento Peak Observatory solar tower. Results can be summarized as follows:

1. Phase-lag between intensity fluctuations and dopplershifts is always near 90° in the Ca ii lines, even for frequencies as high as 15 mHz, and whatever is the location in the chromospheric network.
2. Magneto-acoustic waves propagating vertically in a vertical or horizontal magnetic field could account for the observations only if they were, on one hand reflected in the upper atmosphere, on the other hand propagating with a very high sound or Alfvén speed. The lower limit for the speed (70 km s^-1) does not seem to be realistic. Oblique waves could be investigated for better agreement.

     

The global structure of the solar wind in June 1991

A numerical simulation of the global solar wind structure for Carrington rotation 1843 (31 May–28 June, 1991) is performed based on a fully three-dimensional, steady-state MHD model of the solar wind (Usmanov, 1993b). A self-consistent solution for 3-D MHD equations is constructed for the spherical shell extending from the solar photosphere up to 10 AU. Solar magnetic field observations are used to prescribe boundary conditions. The computed distribution of the magnetic field is compared with coronal hole observations and with the IMF measurements made by IMP-8 spacecraft at the Earth's orbit.     

Distributions of tangential discontinuity in the corotating solar wind structure

Distributions of the tangential discontinuity (TD) in the solar wind sector structure are investigated on the basis of the magnetic field data and the ion plasma parameters from the Explorer 33 satellite from 23 January to 23 March 1968. The TD is separated from the observed field fluctuations by calculating the direction of the plasma flow and also the direction of the minimum field fluctuation with respect to the ambient magnetic field direction.It is found that the TD is formed by the thin layered field-aligned currents (the current sheets), and that the TD is predominantly built up in the leading edge of the solar wind where the compression of the plasma and the magnetic field takes place.It is suggested that the current sheets might be locally generated in the leading edge in the turbulent conditions arising from collisions between the fast- and the slow-stream of the solar sector structure.     

Velocity waves in the quiet solar chromosphere

Propagation of velocity waves are investigated in the solar chromosphere, with a special view to high frequencies (periods 60 s). Four line profiles have been observed during 27 mn with the Sacramento Peak vacuum telescope (H, 3933, 8498 and 8542 Ca ii). Three Fourier analysis are performed according to the location in the cells of the chromospheric network. Phase-shifts and amplitude ratios between the line Doppler shifts are computed as functions of frequency. The pollution of high frequency results by energetic low frequency oscillations is investigated.H Doppler shifts are probably affected by the large width of line formation layers (low transfer function). Using formation altitudes for Doppler shifts previously computed for the infra-red lines, we show that acoustic waves propagating upwards cannot account for the observations. In particular, the phase-shifts between oscillations in different chromospheric layers are much smaller than theoretical predictions. As a first attempt for a qualitative agreement, we suggest that most of the high frequency oscillations (10–15 mHz) are magnetoacoustic waves, travelling in layers where the gradient of the Alfvén-speed cannot be neglected, and reflected at the top of the chromosphere. The amplitudes of these waves are probably underestimated as derived from the observed Doppler shifts.     

Spatial structure of solar wind at a time of minimum solar activity

Interplanetary scintillation measurements of the solar wind speed in 1976 show the expected trend that higher speeds are found at higher heliographic latitudes or larger angular distances from the interplanetary current sheet deduced from coronal observations. A careful examination of variations in the speed where the current sheet departs from the equator reveals that the wind speed is not symmetrically distributed about the equator, and the minimum speed occurs at the current sheet. The variation of the speed u with the angular distance from the current sheet, λ, during 1976 is

$\text{u(λ) = 800}\text{sin}{}^{\mathrm{?2\lambda }}\text{+ 350}\text{km/s}\text{,|λ| ?35° = 600}\text{km/s}\text{, |λ| > 35°}$

.