Minor ions - Tracers for physical processes in the heliosphere
Abstract
Minor ions can be used as tracers for physical processes in the heliosphere by monitoring their abundances, their charge states, and their dynamic properties in the solar wind. Two applications are discussed in some detail, more applications can be found in other contributions of this session. Here, we discuss the case of He-3 in the solar wind which is a particularly useful tracer for mixing processes within the radiative interior of the sun. The second example deals with the charge states of solar wind ions as temperature diagnostics for the inner corona. Weakly ionized species are sensitive indicators for various processes occurring in the inner heliosphere such as evaporation of cometary debris and the ionization and pick-up of infiltrated interstellar neutral gas. We also present results of a model calculation which demonstrates the usefulness of weakly ionized species as indicators for the formation and propagation of plasmoids within the solar corona.
- Publication:
-
Solar Wind Seven Colloquium
- Pub Date:
- 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992sws..coll..323B
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Heliosphere;
- Helium Isotopes;
- Ion Charge;
- Solar Interior;
- Solar Wind;
- Dynamic Characteristics;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Neutral Gases;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Temperature;
- Solar Physics