Magnetic Switchback Formation: A Review of Proposed Mechanisms
Issued Date
2026-06-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00386308
eISSN
15729672
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105037940062
Journal Title
Space Science Reviews
Volume
222
Issue
4
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Space Science Reviews Vol.222 No.4 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Wyper P.F., Squire J., Pariat E., Agapitov O.V., Drake J.F., Magyar N., Matthaeus W.H., Matteini L., Ruffolo D., Réville V., Shi C., Shoda M., Swisdak M., Velli M., Akhavan-Tafti M., Gannouni B., Lionello R., Madjarska M.S., Owens M.J., Raouafi N.E., Sterling A.C., Tripathi D. Magnetic Switchback Formation: A Review of Proposed Mechanisms. Space Science Reviews Vol.222 No.4 (2026). doi:10.1007/s11214-026-01296-5 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/116708
Title
Magnetic Switchback Formation: A Review of Proposed Mechanisms
Author's Affiliation
CNRS Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
The University of Tokyo
University of California, Berkeley
Imperial College London
Sorbonne Université
University of Maryland, College Park
Durham University
Michigan Engineering
University of Otago
Auburn University
University of Reading
College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Instituto Astrofisico de Canarias
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at UCLA
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
The Bartol Research Institute
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics India
Space Research and Technology Institute
Predictive Science Inc.
Starion Group S.A.
The University of Tokyo
University of California, Berkeley
Imperial College London
Sorbonne Université
University of Maryland, College Park
Durham University
Michigan Engineering
University of Otago
Auburn University
University of Reading
College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Instituto Astrofisico de Canarias
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at UCLA
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
The Bartol Research Institute
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics India
Space Research and Technology Institute
Predictive Science Inc.
Starion Group S.A.
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Magnetic switchbacks are large amplitude deflections of the magnetic field within the solar wind. They are Alfvénic in character and so are associated with a spike in velocity and a generally small variation in local plasma density. Early orbits of Parker Solar Probe revealed that the solar wind near the Sun is dominated by these structures, and therefore, they may be playing an important role in the energy budget and acceleration of the young solar wind. In this review, we present an overview of different mechanisms that have been proposed for how switchbacks could be formed. We group the mechanisms by whether they predominantly act in the low solar atmosphere or within the solar wind (in situ). We focus on mechanisms that can create reversals of the ambient magnetic field direction and, thus, account for the most extreme perturbations. The general consensus is that mechanisms in the lower solar atmosphere do not form such reversals on their own but provide the seed perturbations, flows, or particle beams necessary for in situ mechanisms to create switchbacks within the solar wind. Switchback observations thus likely contain an imprint of the coronal source of the seed perturbation or flow, which is evolved further locally by one of several plausible in situ mechanisms. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each mechanism and outline future observational and theoretical tests that could help differentiate between them.