Published May 1, 2021 | Version v1
Journal article

Evolution of Solar Wind Turbulence from 0.1 to 1 au during the First Parker Solar Probe–Solar Orbiter Radial Alignment

  • 1. National Institute for Astrophysics, Astrophysical Observatory of Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, I-10025 Pino Torinese (Italy)
  • 2. Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Ångström Laboratory, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, SE-751 21 Uppsala (Sweden)
  • 3. Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ (United Kingdom)
  • 4. Advanced Heliophysics, Pasadena, CA 91106 (United States)
  • 5. Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (United States)
  • 6. National Research Council, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, c/o University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende (Italy)
  • 7. Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805 (United States)
  • 8. National Institute for Astrophysics, Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Roma (Italy)
  • 9. Italian Space Agency, Via del Politecnico snc, I-00133 Roma (Italy)
  • 10. Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d'Acoustique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Centrale de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA de Lyon, F-69134 Écully (France)
  • 11. Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 (United States)

Description

The first radial alignment between Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter spacecraft is used to investigate the evolution of solar wind turbulence in the inner heliosphere. Assuming ballistic propagation, two 1.5 hr intervals are tentatively identified as providing measurements of the same plasma parcels traveling from 0.1 to 1 au. Using magnetic field measurements from both spacecraft, the properties of turbulence in the two intervals are assessed. Magnetic spectral density, flatness, and high-order moment scaling laws are calculated. The Hilbert–Huang transform is additionally used to mitigate short sample and poor stationarity effects. Results show that the plasma evolves from a highly Alfvénic, less-developed turbulence state near the Sun, to fully developed and intermittent turbulence at 1 au. These observations provide strong evidence for the radial evolution of solar wind turbulence.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/abf7d1

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal Volume
912
Journal Issue
2
Journal Page Range
[8 p.]
ISSN
2041-8205

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
53071968
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
HELIOSPHERE; SOLAR WIND; SPACE VEHICLES; SPECTRAL DENSITY
Descriptors DEC
ATMOSPHERES; FUNCTIONS; SOLAR ACTIVITY; SOLAR ATMOSPHERE; SPECTRAL FUNCTIONS; STELLAR ACTIVITY; STELLAR ATMOSPHERES; STELLAR WINDS; VEHICLES