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Observations and physical interpretations of the solar wind flow properties as obtained from white light coronagraph aboard SPARTAN 201-01The solar corona was observed with an externally occulted White Light Coronagraph (WLC) carried on the SPARTAN 201-1 spacecraft on 11-12 Apr. 1993. With observations from WLC and the ground based Mauna Loa White Light Coronagraph, a large number of polar plumes both in the north and south polar holes were traced from 1.16 to 5.5 Rs. Flow properties of the solar wind in coronal holes have been determined (Habbal et al., 1995) by using a two fluid model constrained by density profiles and scale height temperatures from the white light observations, and interplanetary measurements of the flow speed and proton mass flux from Ulysses' south polar passage. Provisions for acceleration by Alfven waves, as well as electron and proton heating, are included in the momentum and the energy equations respectively. The model computations fit remarkably well the empirical constraints of the two different density structures (plumes and coronal holes) for a range of input parameters. In this study we investigate the physical nature of the heating function used in the two-fluid model. Alfven waves have been suggested as the possible source of heating that accelerates the solar wind (Ofman and Davila, 1995). We utilize the density contrast observed in WLC data in the plume and ambient coronal hole region to estimate the Alfven wave frequencies responsible for heating these structures. The source heating function utilized in the two fluid model of the solar wind acceleration will be compared with the resonant Alfven wave heating function.
Document ID
19960021362
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Guhathakurta, Madhulika
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Fisher, Richard
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Ofman, Leon
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
96N24758
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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