A KINETIC ALFVEN WAVE AND THE PROTON DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION IN THE FAST SOLAR WIND

Journal Article · Fri Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/719/2/L190· OSTI ID:21450950

Xing, Li ^[1]; Quanming, Lu ^[2]; Yao, Chen; Bo, Li; Lidong, Xia ^[3]

---

1. Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Aberystwyth University, SY23 3GG (United Kingdom)
2. School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)
3. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, School of Space Science and Physics, Shandong University at Weihai, Weihai 264209 (China)

Using one-dimensional test particle simulations, the effect of a kinetic Alfven wave on the velocity distribution function (VDF) of protons in the collisionless solar wind is investigated. We first use linear Vlasov theory to numerically obtain the property of a kinetic Alfven wave (the wave propagates in the direction almost perpendicular to the background magnetic field). We then numerically simulate how the wave will shape the proton VDF. It is found that Landau resonance may be able to generate two components in the initially Maxwellian proton VDF: a tenuous beam component along the direction of the background magnetic field and a core component. The streaming speed of the beam relative to the core proton component is about 1.2-1.3 Alfven speed.

• OSTI ID: 21450950
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 719; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
BARYONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FUNCTIONS
HADRONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NUCLEONS
PROTONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS