Magnetic cloud observations by the HELIOS spacecraft
Abstract
A possible interpretation for the observed characteristics of an interplanetary magnetic cloud is the passage of a magnetic flux rope. For simplification the flux rope might be considered as a cylindrically symmetric structure with the magnetic field lines being directed parallel to the axis at its center and circular at its outer edges. Near the center of this flux rope the magnetic field strength would be strongest. The minimum variance technique was applied to several magnetic clouds observed by the Helios spacecraft between 0.3 and 1 AU in order to determine the orientations of the magnetic flux rope axis. The calculated orientations are examined with respect to the global solar wind stream structure, the surrounding solar wind flow, the radial distance to the sun and their solar origin.
- Publication:
-
Solar Wind Seven Colloquium
- Pub Date:
- 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992sws..coll..599B
- Keywords:
-
- Helios Satellites;
- Interplanetary Medium;
- Magnetic Clouds;
- Magnetic Field Configurations;
- Solar Wind;
- Plasma-Electromagnetic Interaction;
- Solar Corona;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Solar Physics