Origin of the warped heliospheric current sheet

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.209.4456.603· OSTI ID:5756457

Wilcox, J M; Hoeksema, J T; Scherrer, P H

The warped heliospheric current sheet for early 1976 is calculated from the observed photospheric magnetic field by a potential field method. Comparisons with measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field polarity for early 1976 obtained at several locations in the heliosphere by Helios 1, Helios 2, Pioneer 11, and at the earth show a rather detailed agreement between the computed current sheet and the observations. It appears that the large-scale structure of the warped heliospheric current sheet is determined by the structure of the photospheric magnetic field and that ballerina skirt effects may add small-scale ripples.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA
• OSTI ID: 5756457
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 209; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MORPHOLOGY
PHOTOSPHERE
PIONEER SPACE PROBES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
SOLAR CYCLE
SOLAR WIND
SPACE VEHICLES
STABILITY
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SUN
VEHICLES