483 research outputs found
Kinetic properties of heavy solar wind ions from UlyssesâSWICS
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95282/1/grl20935.pd
Variations in solar wind fractionation as seen by ACE/SWICS over a solar cycle and the implications for Genesis Mission results
We use ACE/SWICS elemental composition data to compare the variations in
solar wind fractionation as measured by SWICS during the last solar maximum
(1999-2001), the solar minimum (2006-2009) and the period in which the Genesis
spacecraft was collecting solar wind (late 2001 - early 2004). We differentiate
our analysis in terms of solar wind regimes (i.e. originating from interstream
or coronal hole flows, or coronal mass ejecta). Abundances are normalized to
the low-FIP ion magnesium to uncover correlations that are not apparent when
normalizing to high-FIP ions. We find that relative to magnesium, the other
low-FIP elements are measurably fractionated, but the degree of fractionation
does not vary significantly over the solar cycle. For the high-FIP ions,
variation in fractionation over the solar cycle is significant: greatest for
Ne/Mg and C/Mg, less so for O/Mg, and the least for He/Mg. When abundance
ratios are examined as a function of solar wind speed, we find a strong
correlation, with the remarkable observation that the degree of fractionation
follows a mass-dependent trend. We discuss the implications for correcting the
Genesis sample return results to photospheric abundances.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Heliospheric Magnetic Field Configuration at Solar Maximum Conditions: Consequences for Galactic Cosmic Rays
During solar maximum conditions, the heliosphere is highly structured on all spatial scales. It is the purpose of this paper to summarize our current understanding of these structures from global scales to mesoscale, a fraction of 1 AU. We use theoretical considerations, in situ observations near Earth and the Ulysses spacecraft, and global heliosphere calculations to discuss the effects on both global and mesoscales on the threeâdimensional structure of the heliospheric magnetic field and their effects on galactic cosmic rays. These conclusions are in contrast to nearâsolarâminimumâlike heliospheric conditions that are currently assumed in modulation and transport calculations even during solar maximum. The expected complex heliospheric properties should be of major importance for the interpretation of the heliospheric boundary events observed by Voyager 1 since 2002. A companion paper by L. A. Fisk will explore the effects of the mesoscale structures on particle acceleration in the heliospheric boundary region. © 2004 American Institute of PhysicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87301/2/70_1.pd
The solar wind composition throughout the solar cycle: A continuum of dynamic states
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95110/1/grl15245.pd
The Composition of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections
Interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) associated plasma can exhibit signatures in elemental, ionic and isotopic composition. These signatures occur in less than 50% of all ICMEs, but are very indicative of ICME plasma. We review these compositional anomalies and briefly discuss a physical scenario that could be responsible for these anomalies. © 2003 American Institute of PhysicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87653/2/604_1.pd
Composition variations in fast solar wind streams
The Ulysses spacecraft has now completed its first revolution around the Sun on its nearly-polar orbit. Thereby it has traversed the extended high speed streams from the polar coronal holes (south in 1993/94, north in 1995/96) which were well-developed during that time of close to minimal solar activity. It is evident that the fluctuations of both the kinetic and the compositional parameters are much weaker in the high-speed streams than they are in the slow solar wind, leading Bame to use the term âstructure-freeâ for describing it. It was only the extended time periods Ulysses spent in the polar streams that led to the detection of some structure, the microstreams. From remote observations of the Sun it is clear that the high latitude corona is quite unstructured. The most remarkable features are the polar plumes, which are well detectable because of their higher density and brightness. Also, they are characterized by a difference in composition relative to the coronal hole plasma. These features should in principle be observable in interplanetary space, e.g. by the SWICS mass spectrometer, in the form of abundance variations of heavy ions as well as variations in their charge state composition, which serves as a proxy for the coronal temperature at the site where the stream originated. Using the unique data set of SWICS we examine to what extent polar plumes contribute to fast, coronal hole associated wind. We also study the possible connection between microstreams and polar plumes. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87727/2/143_1.pd
Coronal Emission Measures and Abundances for Moderately Active K Dwarfs Observed by Chandra
We have used Chandra to resolve the nearby 70 Oph (K0 V+K5 V) and 36 Oph (K1
V+K1 V) binary systems for the first time in X-rays. The LETG/HRC-S spectra of
all four of these stars are presented and compared with an archival LETG
spectrum of another moderately active K dwarf, Epsilon Eri. Coronal densities
are estimated from O VII line ratios and emission measure distributions are
computed for all five of these stars. We see no substantial differences in
coronal density or temperature among these stars, which is not surprising
considering that they are all early K dwarfs with similar activity levels.
However, we do see significant differences in coronal abundance patterns.
Coronal abundance anomalies are generally associated with the first ionization
potential (FIP) of the elements. On the Sun, low-FIP elements are enhanced in
the corona relative to high-FIP elements, the so-called "FIP effect." Different
levels of FIP effect are seen for our stellar sample, ranging from 70 Oph A,
which shows a prominent solar-like FIP effect, to 70 Oph B, which has no FIP
bias at all or possibly even a weak inverse FIP effect. The strong abundance
difference exhibited by the two 70 Oph stars is unexpected considering how
similar these stars are in all other respects (spectral type, age, rotation
period, X-ray flux). It will be difficult for any theoretical explanation for
the FIP effect to explain how two stars so similar in all other respects can
have coronae with different degrees of FIP bias. Finally, for the stars in our
sample exhibiting a FIP effect, a curious difference from the solar version of
the phenomenon is that the data seem to be more consistent with the high-FIP
elements being depleted in the corona rather than a with a low-FIP enhancementComment: 35 pages, 8 figures, AASTEX v5.0 plus EPSF extensions in mkfig.sty;
accepted by Ap
A Unified Picture of the FIP and Inverse FIP Effects
We discuss models for coronal abundance anomalies observed in the coronae of
the sun and other late-type stars following a scenario first introduced by
Schwadron, Fisk & Zurbuchen of the interaction of waves at loop footpoints with
the partially neutral gas. Instead of considering wave heating of ions in this
location, we explore the effects on the upper chromospheric plasma of the wave
ponderomotive forces. These can arise as upward propagating waves from the
chromosphere transmit or reflect upon reaching the chromosphere-corona
boundary, and are in large part determined by the properties of the coronal
loop above. Our scenario has the advantage that for realistic wave energy
densities, both positive and negative changes in the abundance of ionized
species compared to neutrals can result, allowing both FIP and Inverse FIP
effects to come out of the model. We discuss how variations in model parameters
can account for essentially all of the abundance anomalies observed in solar
spectra. Expected variations with stellar spectral type are also qualitatively
consistent with observations of the FIP effect in stellar coronae.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Ap
Variations in Solar Wind Fractionation as Seen by \u3ci\u3eACE\u3c/i\u3e/SWICS and the Implications for \u3ci\u3eGenesis\u3c/i\u3e Mission Results
We use Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)/Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS) elemental composition data to compare the variations in solar wind (SW) fractionation as measured by SWICS during the last solar maximum (1999-2001), the solar minimum (2006-2009), and the period in which the Genesis spacecraft was collecting SW (late 2001-early 2004). We differentiate our analysis in terms in SW regimes (i.e., originating from interstream or coronal hole flows, or coronal mass ejecta). Abundances are normalized to the low-first ionization potential (low-FIP) ion magnesium to uncover correlations that are not apparent when normalizing to high-FIP ions. We find that relative to magnesium, the other low-FIP elements are measurably fractionated, but the degree of fractionation does not vary significantly over the solar cycle. For the high-FIP ions, variations in fractionation over the solar cycle is significant: greatest for Ne/Mg and C/Mg, less so for O/Mg, and the least for He/Mg. When abundance ratios are examined as a function of SW speed, we find a strong correlation, with the remarkable observation that the degrees of fractionation follows a mass-dependent trend. We discuss the implications for correcting the Genesis sample return results to photospheric abundances
- âŠ