Bidirectional electron heat flux events in space
In this paper we discuss a number of space plasma phenomena which have been illuminated by a powerful diagnostic tool provided by tracing heat flux carried by the solar wind. Measurements of this flow of heat energy from the sun and other hot plasma regions have been employed to increase our understanding of the solar wind interaction with solar system objects. Similarly, anomalies in the heat flux have helped to explain unusual plasma entities which are sometimes found in the interplanetary solar wind. The heat flux is principally carried by the solar wind electrons, since they are much more mobile than the ions. The electrons conduct heat outward from the hot solar corona and in a sense they constitute test particles that trace out the various plasma structures found in the solar wind and in the vicinities of bodies immersed in the interplanetary plasma flow. In the following sections we begin by discussing the electron heat flux which flows outward from the solar corona. This flux is ordinarily found flowing in one direction, i.e., it is unidirectional. Sometimes it is observed counterstreaming, i.e., it is bidirectional. In later sections we discuss how detection of bidirectional heat fluxes has contributed to a more complete understanding of the Earth's bow shock, the bow wave at Comet Giacobini-Zinner, interplanetary plasma structures injected into the solar wind by solar activity processes, and finally polar rain electrons that are found precipitating over the Earth's poles but are believed to originate in the hot solar corona. 37 refs., 16 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5818362
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-87-3519; CONF-8611203-1; ON: DE88001791
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Tokyo plasma workshop, Tokyo, Japan, 1 Nov 1986; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRON PLASMA WAVES
HEAT FLUX
SOLAR CORONA
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ENERGY SPECTRA
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA SHEET
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR WIND
SPACE VEHICLES
ATMOSPHERES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
PLASMA WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SPACE
SPECTRA
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE
VEHICLES
640104* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Solar Phenomena