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Detailed Reference Information |
Newbury, J.A., Russell, C.T., Phillips, J.L. and Gary, S.P. (1998). Electron temperature in the ambient solar wind: Typical properties and a lower bound at 1 AU. Journal of Geophysical Research 103: doi: 10.1029/98JA00067. issn: 0148-0227. |
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Our understanding of what controls the solar wind electron temperature is far from complete. Previous studies from the Vela and IMP spacecraft have suggested that twice the proton temperature or an assumed average of ~150,000 K are reasonable estimations of total electron temperature at 1 AU. Eighteen months of continuous ISEE 3 solar wind data are analyzed in this paper and are found to have a mean electron temperature of 141,000¿38,000 K, in good agreement with past measurements. No correlation is found between electron temperature and other solar wind parameters, including proton temperature. However, a very distinct lower bound on the electron temperature is found; this bound increases with proton temperature and is observed by both ISEE 3 and Ulysses spacecraft. The bound is also found to vary with bulk solar speed of the solar wind and with distance from the Sun. Solar wind plasma observed following stream interactions are often associated with temperatures near this bound, and enhanced electromagnetic wave activity in the 18--100 Hz range is coincident with intervals where this apparent temperature coupling is observed, suggesting the possible presence of wave-particle interactions. Possible explanations for the existence of this electron temperature bound are explored, but no definitive answer has been found at this time. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Ejecta, driver gases, and magnetic clouds, Interplanetary Physics, Interplanetary shocks, Interplanetary Physics, Solar wind plasma, Interplanetary Physics, Sources of the solar wind |
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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 |
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