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Solar wind models with Alfven wavesSolutions to the one-fluid solar-wind equations that include pressure and heating due to outwardly propagating Alfven waves are presented. The solutions are given for two forms of the heat flux: the classical Spitzer (1962) formula and a 'collisional' heat flux. Both high-speed and low-speed solar-wind streams are considered. A comparison of solutions with and without waves shows that the solutions without waves cannot come close to reproducing observations of total mass and energy flux at 1 AU, while those with waves are capable of bringing nearly all flow variables into reasonable agreement with the observations. The required wave flux is found to be about 100,000 erg/sq cm per sec for the high-speed streams and an order of magnitude less for the low-speed streams. It is concluded that the pressure and heating due to outwardly propagating Alfven waves are important elements of solar-wind dynamics that cannot be neglected and that wave heating is especially important for the protons in high-speed streams.
Document ID
19790032871
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Jacques, S. A.
(High Altitude Observatory Boulder, Colo., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1978
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
79A16884
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7287
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-32364
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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