Observed properties of interplanetary rotational discontinuities

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2088-2093

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i013p02088· OSTI ID:4403756

Smith, E J

In a prior study, discontinuities were identified as tangential or rotational principally on the basis of the existence or absence of a magnetic field component perpendicular to the plane of the discontinuity. The observed properties of the rotational discontinuities are described. The normals to the discontinuities were subjected to a variance analysis and did not exhibit a statistically significant anisotropy. These normals appear to be randomly oriented. Since rotational discontinuities are large-amplitude Alfven waves, the transverse perturbation in the magnetic field implies a corresponding jump in the solar wind velocity that is often only slightly less than the Alfven speed. The rotational discontinuities identified are all circularly polarized and transport vorticity and angular momentum. No preferred sense of polarization is found, however, and both right-hand and left-hand polarizations occur with equal probability in the spacecraft frame. (auth)

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-003304
• OSTI ID: 4403756
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2088-2093, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2088-2093; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*INTERPLANETARY SPACE-- MAGNETIC FIELDS
ALFVEN WAVES
ANISOTROPY
N56700* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Planetary Phenomena
POLARIZATION
ROTATION
SOLAR WIND