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Magnetic increases with central current sheets: observations with Parker Solar Probe

Authors :
T. D. Phan
Stuart D. Bale
Davin Larson
John W. Bonnell
Jasper Halekas
Michael L. Stevens
Matthieu Berthomier
David M. Malaspina
Marit Øieroset
Jonathan Eastwood
Peter Harvey
Benoit Lavraud
Marc Pulupa
A. P. Rouillard
N. Fargette
Kelly E. Korreck
Phyllis Whittlesey
Keith Goetz
Justin C. Kasper
Philippe Louarn
A. W. Case
Robert J. MacDowall
T. Dudok de Wit
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (IRAP)
Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)
Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Department of Physics [Imperial College London]
Imperial College London
Space Sciences Laboratory [Berkeley] (SSL)
University of California [Berkeley]
University of California-University of California
Department of Physics and Astronomy [Iowa City]
University of Iowa [Iowa City]
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP)
University of Michigan [Ann Arbor]
University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Smithsonian Institution
University of Colorado [Boulder]
GSFC Solar System Exploration Division
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
School of Physics and Astronomy [Minneapolis]
University of Minnesota [Twin Cities] (UMN)
University of Minnesota System-University of Minnesota System
Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace (LPC2E)
Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en région Centre (OSUC)
Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Observatoire de Paris
Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Observatoire de Paris
Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National d’Études Spatiales [Paris] (CNES)
Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3)
Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Météo-France -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
University of California [Berkeley] (UC Berkeley)
University of California (UC)-University of California (UC)
Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris
Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris
Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National d’Études Spatiales [Paris] (CNES)
Source :
Astronomy and Astrophysics-A&A, Astronomy and Astrophysics-A&A, EDP Sciences, 2021, 650, pp.A11. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202039191⟩, Astronomy and Astrophysics-A&A, 2021, 650, pp.A11. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/202039191⟩
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
EDP Sciences, 2021.

Abstract

Aims.We report the observation by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) of magnetic structures in the solar wind that present a strong peak in their magnetic field magnitude with an embedded central current sheet. Similar structures have been observed, either at the Earth’s magnetopause and called interlinked flux tubes, or in the solar wind and called interplanetary field enhancements.Methods.In this work, we first investigate two striking events in detail; one occurred in the regular slow solar wind on November 2, 2018 and the other was observed during a heliospheric current sheet crossing on November 13, 2018. They both show the presence of a central current sheet with a visible ion jet and general characteristics consistent with the occurrence of magnetic reconnection. We then performed a survey of PSP data from encounters 1 to 4 and find 18 additional events presenting an increase in the magnetic field magnitude of over 30% and a central current sheet. We performed a statistical study on the 20 “magnetic increases with central current sheet” (MICCS), with 13 observed in the regular slow solar wind with a constant polarity (i.e., identical strahl direction), and 7 which were specifically observed near a heliospheric current sheet crossing.Results.We analyze and discuss the general properties of the structures, including the duration, location, amplitude, and magnetic topology, as well as the characteristics of their central current sheet. We find that the latter has a preferential orientation in the TN plane of the RTN frame. We also find no significant change in the dust impact rate in the vicinity of the MICCS under study, leading us to conclude that dust probably plays no role in the MICCS formation and evolution. Our findings are overall consistent with a double flux tube-configuration that would result from initially distinct flux tubes which interact during solar wind propagation.

Details

ISSN :
14320746 and 00046361
Volume :
650
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....2495887b6cfec2fed660a142fc428b32