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Detailed Reference Information
Feuerstein et al. 2004
Feuerstein, W.M., Larson, D.E., Luhmann, J.G., Lin, R.P., Kahler, S.W. and Crooker, N.U. (2004). Parameters of solar wind electron heat-flux pitch-angle distributions and IMF topologies. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2004GL020529. issn: 0094-8276.

Pitch-angle distributions (PADs) of solar wind heat-flux (HF) electrons are used as a proxy for interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) topology. Unidirectional PADs yield IMF solar polarities, and bidirectional electron (BDE) PADs are interpreted as signatures of closed fields. A general perception exists that the directionalities are easily distinguished, clearly defining open and closed IMFs. We quantify PADs with the ratios of the HF parallel and anti-parallel to the IMF to that perpendicular to the IMF plotting these parameters against each other in a directionality distribution for six years of electron data from the 3DP experiment on the Wind satellite. This bimodal plot clearly shows the unidirectional populations, but shows no evidence for a separate bidirectional HF population. A similar plot of magnetic clouds is double-banded with no evidence of a bifurcation between bidirectional and unidirectional regimes. In conclusion, this basic parameterization shows no distinction between open and closed field topologies.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Interplanetary Physics, Interplanetary magnetic fields, Interplanetary Physics, Solar wind plasma, Interplanetary Physics, Sources of the solar wind, Solar Physics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy, Coronal mass ejections, Solar Physics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy, Magnetic fields
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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