Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations

A statistical study of the radial evolution of the solar wind within 0.3 au is shown in this Letter based on Parker Solar Probe observations. We show the radial distribution of the main solar wind parameters, including the solar wind speed V _sw , magnetic field ∣ B ∣, the number density of electron...

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Main Authors: Wen Liu, Huan-Yu Jia, Si-Ming Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2a4a
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author Wen Liu
Huan-Yu Jia
Si-Ming Liu
author_facet Wen Liu
Huan-Yu Jia
Si-Ming Liu
author_sort Wen Liu
collection DOAJ
description A statistical study of the radial evolution of the solar wind within 0.3 au is shown in this Letter based on Parker Solar Probe observations. We show the radial distribution of the main solar wind parameters, including the solar wind speed V _sw , magnetic field ∣ B ∣, the number density of electrons N _e , protons N _p , and α particles N _α , and the temperature of protons T _p and α particles T _α . The power-law fitting results of these parameters in the near-Sun solar wind are compared with previous radial models. We also show the radial distribution of the angle between the magnetic field B , solar wind V _sw , and radial vector R . In the solar wind within 0.3 au, ${\theta }_{{\mathrm{BV}}_{\mathrm{sw}}}$ , and θ _BR mainly concentrate around 135°, and ${\theta }_{{\mathrm{RV}}_{\mathrm{sw}}}$ almost concentrates in the region less than 20°. Furthermore, we also present the radial distribution of the relative values between the solar wind parameters, including the electric neutrality estimation ((2 × N _α + N _p )/ N _e ≃ 1 within 0.2 au), relative number density ratio ( N _α / N _p ≃ 0.02 in slow solar wind and N _α / N _p ≃ 0.04 in faster solar wind), relative temperature ratio ( T _α / T _p decreases with the increase of heliocentric distance and its decay rate is larger in faster solar wind), and differential speed (both V _α − V _p and ( V _α − V _p )/ V _A are larger in the faster solar wind and decrease as heliocentric distance increases).
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spelling doaj.art-a0efda472b4643e48760ee897ddfbbe72024-03-05T15:20:59ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019632L3610.3847/2041-8213/ad2a4aRadial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe ObservationsWen Liu0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8376-7842Huan-Yu Jia1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1941-7119Si-Ming Liu2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1039-9521School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University , People's Republic of China ; liuwen@my.swjtu.edu.cn; School of Mechanics and Aeronautics, Southwest Jiaotong University , People's Republic of ChinaSchool of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University , People's Republic of China ; liuwen@my.swjtu.edu.cnSchool of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University , People's Republic of China ; liuwen@my.swjtu.edu.cnA statistical study of the radial evolution of the solar wind within 0.3 au is shown in this Letter based on Parker Solar Probe observations. We show the radial distribution of the main solar wind parameters, including the solar wind speed V _sw , magnetic field ∣ B ∣, the number density of electrons N _e , protons N _p , and α particles N _α , and the temperature of protons T _p and α particles T _α . The power-law fitting results of these parameters in the near-Sun solar wind are compared with previous radial models. We also show the radial distribution of the angle between the magnetic field B , solar wind V _sw , and radial vector R . In the solar wind within 0.3 au, ${\theta }_{{\mathrm{BV}}_{\mathrm{sw}}}$ , and θ _BR mainly concentrate around 135°, and ${\theta }_{{\mathrm{RV}}_{\mathrm{sw}}}$ almost concentrates in the region less than 20°. Furthermore, we also present the radial distribution of the relative values between the solar wind parameters, including the electric neutrality estimation ((2 × N _α + N _p )/ N _e ≃ 1 within 0.2 au), relative number density ratio ( N _α / N _p ≃ 0.02 in slow solar wind and N _α / N _p ≃ 0.04 in faster solar wind), relative temperature ratio ( T _α / T _p decreases with the increase of heliocentric distance and its decay rate is larger in faster solar wind), and differential speed (both V _α − V _p and ( V _α − V _p )/ V _A are larger in the faster solar wind and decrease as heliocentric distance increases).https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2a4aSolar windSolar evolutionSpace plasmas
spellingShingle Wen Liu
Huan-Yu Jia
Si-Ming Liu
Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Solar wind
Solar evolution
Space plasmas
title Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
title_full Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
title_fullStr Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
title_full_unstemmed Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
title_short Radial Evolution of the Near-Sun Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations
title_sort radial evolution of the near sun solar wind parker solar probe observations
topic Solar wind
Solar evolution
Space plasmas
url https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2a4a
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