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Quantitative analysis of bidirectional electron fluxes within coronal mass ejections at 1 AUThe solar wind electron heat flux is carried primarily by suprathermal electrons beamed antisunward along the interplanetary magnetic field. However, analysis of electron observations at 1 AU has shown that counterstreaming electron beams, suggesting closed magnetic structures, prevail within coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These structures might be magnetic 'tongues', magnetically detached plasmoids, or complex flux ropes. Here we show results of analysis of ISEE-3 observations within 39 CMEs, including the asymmetry between the two beams, its control by magnetic field orientation, and the variation of the electron distributions as CMEs convect past the spacecraft. We find that some CMEs are strongly asymmetric, with the antisunward beam generally dominant, while others contain nearly symmetric beams. The beam asymmetries, and the magnetic field orientations, exhibit characteristic trends as CMEs pass over the spacecraft. We present an example of a distinctive 'strahl-on-strahl' distribution, suggesting continued magnetic connection to the corona, in which a narrow antisunward beam is superimposed on a broader beam. Our results favor continuing magnetic connection to the Sun in a tongue or flux rope geometry rather than a fully detached plasmoid.
Document ID
19930049688
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Phillips, J. L.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Gosling, J. T.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Mccomas, D. J.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Bame, S. J.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Feldman, W. C.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: In: Solar Wind Seven; Proceedings of the 3rd COSPAR Colloquium, Goslar, Germany, Sept. 16-20, 1991 (A93-33554 13-92)
Publisher: Pergamon Press
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
93A33685
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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