Tangential discontinuities in the solar wind: Correlated field and velocity changes in the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA091iA12p13694· OSTI ID:6825334

Neugebauer, M; Alexander, C J; Schwenn, R; Richter, A K

Three-dimensional Helios plasma and field data are used to investigate the relative changes in direction of the velocity and magnetic field vectors across tangential discontinuities, (TDs) in the solar wind at solar distances of 0.29--0.50 AU. It is found for tangential discontinuities with both ..delta..v and ..delta..B/B large that ..delta..v and ..delta..B are closely aligned with each other, in agreement with the unexpected results of previous studies of tangential discontinuities observed at 1 AU and beyond. It is shown that this effect probably results from the destruction by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of TDs for which ..delta..v and ..delta..B are not aligned. The observed decrease in the number of interplanetary discontinuities with increasing solar distance may be associated with the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability with decreasing Alfven speed.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
• OSTI ID: 6825334
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 91:A12; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
DATA ANALYSIS
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
TENSORS
VECTORS
VELOCITY