Interplanetary observational constraints on Alfve;aen wave acceleration of the solar wind
Abstract
Spacecraft and interplanetary remote sensing observations of wave spectra are used to constrian the possible role of Alvén waves in the acceleration of high-speed streams in the solar wind. The observations suggest a method for extrapolating the wave energy flux near 1 AU back to the Sun in a way that accounts for dissipation. Applying this method both for typical parameters and in the case of a well studied high speed stream leads to the conclusion that the Alfvén waves observed in the solar wind were not sufficiently energetic near the Sun to accelerate the streams.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- June 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JA094iA06p06899
- Bibcode:
- 1989JGR....94.6899R
- Keywords:
-
- Acceleration (Physics);
- Interplanetary Space;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Waves;
- Solar Wind Velocity;
- Wave Propagation;
- Wentzel-Kramer-Brillouin Method;
- Interplanetary Physics: Sources of the solar wind;
- Interplanetary Physics: MHD waves and turbulence;
- Space Plasma Physics: Turbulence;
- Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary magnetic fields