First order latitude effects in the solar wind

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

13

Scientific paper

The Weber-Davis model of the solar wind is generalized to include the effects of latitude. The principal assumptions of perfect electrical conductivity, rotational symmetry, a polytropic relation between pressure and density, and a flow aligned magnetic field in a system rotating with the Sun, are retained. A flow aligned magnetic field in the rotating system may be expressed in terms of the flow velocity and density. Rotational symmetry fixes the longitudinal flow velocity Vφ in terms of the flow in the r-θ plane. Thus, the original three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow problem is reduced to a two dimensional hydrodynamic flow problem in the r-θ plane. There are three critical surfaces associated with the equations which supply conditions to determine three of six required boundary conditions. The specified boundary conditions at the base of the corona are the temperature, density, and magnitude of the magnetic field. The equations are then expanded about the radial, nonrotating Parker solution and an analytic solution is obtained for the resulting first order equations. The results show that for constant coronal boundary conditions there is a latitudinal flow toward the solar poles, as a result of magnetic stresses, which persists out to large distances for the Sun. Associated with this flow is a latitudinal component of the magnetic field. The radial flow parameters are, to within small first order differences, in agreement with those of the Parker and the Weber-Davis models of the solar wind. The equations are further generalized to permit first order latitudinal variations in the specified coronal boundary conditions. Results at 1 a.u. are presented for 5 per cent latitudinal differences between the equatorial and polar values. These results show that the solution at 1 a.u. is most sensitive to a latitudinal dependence in the boundary temperature and least sensitive to a latitudinal dependence in the magnetic field magnitude. A solution is then obtained for an approximate dipolar variation in the coronal magnetic field magnitude. This solution predicts that the latitudinal flow is initially toward the Equator due to magnetic channeling; however, this effect is rapidly overcome and the latitudinal flow at 1 a.u. is toward the pole and not significantly different from the solution for constant boundary conditions.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

First order latitude effects in the solar wind does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with First order latitude effects in the solar wind, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and First order latitude effects in the solar wind will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1799368

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.