PSP Bibliography



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Nature, Generation, and Dissipation of Alfv\ enic Kinks/Switchbacks Observed by Parker Solar Probe and WIND


AuthorHou, Chuanpeng; Zhu, Xingyu; Zhuo, Rui; He, Jiansen; Verscharen, Daniel; Duan, Die;
KeywordsParker Data Used; Solar wind; interplanetary turbulence; Interplanetary discontinuities; 1534; 830; 820
AbstractThe discovery of very prominent magnetic kinks/switchbacks in the solar wind within 0.3 au has become a scientific highlight of the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission. This discovery points at the promising impact of small-scale solar activity on the inner heliosphere. To address the nature, generation, and dissipation of these kinks, we perform a statistical analysis of the plasma and boundary properties of the kinks using PSP multi-encounter observations and WIND measurements at 1 au. The kinks show strong Alfv\ enicity and velocity fluctuations of the order of the local Alfv\ en speed. These findings suggest that the nature of the kinks is consistent with large-amplitude Alfv\ en pulses, and the steepening of these Alfv\ en pulses is likely the formation mechanism of these kinks. Based on the angle between the normal direction of the kinks boundaries and the background magnetic field vector, PSP kinks and WIND kinks can be divided into two groups: quasi-parallel and quasi- perpendicular kinks. We speculate that quasi-parallel kinks form through the coupling of Alfv\ en and fast waves as launched from coronal interchange magnetic reconnection. In contrast, quasi-perpendicular kinks may come from the steepening of Alfv\ en waves launched from both coronal interchange magnetic reconnection and from the more inhomogeneous lower solar atmosphere. We find that the kink velocity perturbation gradually decreases during outward propagation and is much lower than expected from WKB theory, suggesting a progressive dissipation of the kinks. Comparing PSP kinks and WIND kinks, we conjecture that the kinks dissipate through merging with the turbulent energy cascade within 0.25 au.
Year of Publication2023
Journal\apj
Volume950
Number of Pages157
Section
Date Publishedjun
ISBN
URL
DOI10.3847/1538-4357/accf94