Bidirectional solar wind electron heat flux events

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA08p08519· OSTI ID:6239328

Gosling, J T; Baker, D N; Bame, S J; Feldman, W C; Zwickl, R D; Smith, E J

Normally the approx. >80-eV electrons which carry the solar wind electron heat flux are collimated along the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the direction pointing outward away from the sun. Occasionally, however, collimated fluxes of approx. >80-eV electrons are observed traveling both parallel and antiparallel to the IMF. Here we present the results of a survey of such bidirectional electron heat flux events as observed with the plasma and magnetic field experiments aboard ISEE 3 at times when the spacecraft was not magnetically connected to the earth's bow shock. The onset of a bidirectional electron heat flux at ISEE 3 usually signals spacecraft entry into a distinct solar wind plasma and field entity, most often characterized by anomalously low proton and electron temperatures, a strong, smoothly varying magnetic field, a low plasma beta, and a high total pressure. Significant field rotations often occur at the beginning and/or end of bidirectional heat flux events, and, at times, the large field rotations characteristic of ''magnetic clouds'' are present. Approximately half of all bidirectional heat flux events are associated with and follow interplanetary shocks, while the other events have no obvious shock associations.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico
• OSTI ID: 6239328
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:A8; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY LEVELS
FERMIONS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HEAT FLUX
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
ROTATING PLASMA
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR ELECTRONS
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE
STELLAR RADIATION