Alfvenic acceleration of solar wind helium 2. Model calculations

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i010p01659· OSTI ID:7365099

Chang, S C; Hollweg, J V

A previous paper (Hollweg, 1974a) discussed a new physical mechanism for accelerating ..cap alpha.. particles in the solar wind, via their interaction with Alfven waves. Numerical calculations are presented of a simple three-fluid solar wind model, which incorporates the new physical process. The principal result is that the Alfven wave do effect an important additional coupling between protons and ..cap alpha.. particles, which tends to equalize their flow speeds at 1 AU. This is in sharp contrast to previous calculations, which gave v/suba//v/subp/=0.7--0.8 at 1 AU. But the model calculations still contain two important problems: v/suba/> or =v/subp/ at 1 AU is not obtained as is frequently observed; and the model calculations give values of v/suba/ which are unreasonably low near the sun. Thus it is concluded that the new physical mechanism is probably sufficiently important to warrant its inclusion in future solar wind models but also that there must be other physical processes working, which still remain to be discovered. (AIP)

• Research Organization: High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80303
• OSTI ID: 7365099
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:10; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ALFVEN WAVES
ALPHA PARTICLES
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEONS
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ALPHA PARTICLES
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR RADIATION