On the competition between radial expansion and Coulomb collisions in shaping the electron velocity distribution function: Kinetic simulations
Abstract
We present self consistent kinetic simulations where we explore the effects of electron-electron and electron-proton collisions against the radial expansion of a supersonic wind on the electron velocity distribution function. The combined effects of collisions and expansion naturally generate a two electron populations: a collisional dominated core and an almost collisionless collimated "halo". Several properties of the electron velocity distribution function are compared with spacecraft data: in particular we find that relative densities, drift velocities, temperatures gradients of the two populations are consistent to what observed in the real solar wind. A discussion on the electron heat flux properties is also presented.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMSH34A..05L
- Keywords:
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- 2164 INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS / Solar wind plasma;
- 7827 SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS / Kinetic and MHD theory