The Alfvén transition zone observed by the Parker Solar Probe in young solar wind – global properties and model comparisons
Issued Date
2024-09-01
Resource Type
eISSN
17453933
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85198926962
Journal Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume
533
Issue
1
Start Page
L70
End Page
L75
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters Vol.533 No.1 (2024) , L70-L75
Suggested Citation
Chhiber R., Pecora F., Usmanov A.V., Matthaeus W.H., Goldstein M.L., Roy S., Wang J., Thepthong P., Ruffolo D. The Alfvén transition zone observed by the Parker Solar Probe in young solar wind – global properties and model comparisons. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters Vol.533 No.1 (2024) , L70-L75. L75. doi:10.1093/mnrasl/slae051 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/99903
Title
The Alfvén transition zone observed by the Parker Solar Probe in young solar wind – global properties and model comparisons
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The transition from subAlfvénic to superAlfvénic flow in the solar atmosphere is examined by means of Parker Solar Probe (PSP) measurements during solar encounters 8 to 14. Around 220 subAlfvénic periods with a duration ≥10 min are identified. The distribution of their durations, heliocentric distances, and Alfvén Mach number are analysed and compared with a global magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar corona and wind which includes turbulence effects. The results are consistent with a patchy and fragmented morphology, and suggestive of a turbulent Alfvén zone within which the transition from subAlfvénic to superAlfvénic flow occurs over an extended range of helioradii. These results inform and establish context for detailed analyses of subAlfvénic coronal plasma that are expected to emerge from PSP’s final mission phase, as well as for NASA’s planned PUNCH mission.