Preliminary results from the Voyager solar wind experiment

The properties of the positive ion spectra obtained by the Voyager 2 plasma instrument from September 20, 1977, through June 19, 1978 are reviewed Voyager 2 covered a radial distance of from 1.0 to 3.3 AU. The radial evolution of the solar wind over this distance shows a general decrease in stream amplitude. There is a frequent appearance of deep rarefactions in the higher velocity regions, lasting on the order of one to two days. Globally, the proton number density varies as radial distance to the (-2.4 plus or minus 0.1) power, and the proton temperature as (-0.3 plus or minus 0.1) The alpha particle temperature remains about four times the proton temperature. In quiet regions, the alpha and proton temperatures have a tendency to equalize. There are regions beyond 1.0 AU in which the alpha bulk velocity is significantly different from the proton bulk velocity, but the amplitude of this velocity difference appears to be decreasing somewhat near 3 AU. Outwardly propagating Alfvenic fluctuations are observed at 3.3 AU, essentially unchanged from their 1.0 AU counterparts. Some interesting features of the proton distribution function occurring at a magnetic hole in the solar wind near 1.8 AU are discussed.