The Solar Wind Energy Flux
Abstract
The solar-wind energy flux measured near the Ecliptic is known to be independent of the solar-wind speed. Using plasma data from Helios, Ulysses, and Wind covering a large range of latitudes and time, we show that the solar-wind energy flux is independent of the solar-wind speed and latitude within 10 %, and that this quantity varies weakly over the solar cycle. In other words the energy flux appears as a global solar constant. We also show that the very high-speed solar wind (VSW>700 km s−1) has the same mean energy flux as the slower wind (VSW<700 km s−1), but with a different histogram. We use this result to deduce a relation between the solar-wind speed and density, which formalizes the anti-correlation between these quantities.
- Publication:
-
Solar Physics
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s11207-012-9967-y
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1203.1316
- Bibcode:
- 2012SoPh..279..197L
- Keywords:
-
- Plasma physics;
- Solar wind;
- Energy flux;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 12 pages, 5 figures