EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Goldstein et al. 2000
Goldstein, B.E., Neugebauer, M., Zhang, L.D. and Gary, S.P. (2000). Observed constraint on proton-proton relative velocities in the solar wind. Geophysical Research Letters 27: doi: 10.1029/1999GL003637. issn: 0094-8276.

From June 1994 to December 1995 the Ulysses spacecraft was within 3 AU of the Sun and traveled from high southern to high northern heliospheric latitudes. For this period, SWOOPS instrument data obtained when the magnetic field was approximately aligned with the radial direction from the Sun have been analyzed. In the fast wind at high latitudes, two resolvable proton components are typically present. Statistical studies of the relative densities and the field-aligned velocity difference, vo, of the two components are carried out, considering the dependence on distance from the Sun, the local Alfv¿n speed, and the type of solar wind flow. The observed values of vo/vA, where vA is the local Alfv¿n speed, are less than the upper bound determined from the linear theory for electromagnetic proton-proton instabilities. This result is good evidence that these microinstabilities constrain the relative streaming of the two components in the solar wind. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Plasma waves and turbulence, Interplanetary Physics, Solar wind plasma
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit