Space Physics at Interfaces across the Inner Heliosphere: the Sonic, Alfvén, and Plasma-Beta Unity Surfaces, and the Terrestrial Magnetosheath
Space Physics at Interfaces across the Inner Heliosphere: the Sonic, Alfvén, and Plasma-Beta Unity Surfaces, and the Terrestrial Magnetosheath
Session ID#: 282421
Session Description:
As the solar atmosphere expands through the inner heliosphere, it passes through several key boundaries that are characterized by distinct changes in plasma properties. Of these, the boundaries currently accessible via in-situ observation are the sonic and Alfvén transition regions in the corona (where the flow becomes super-sonic and super-Alfvénic, respectively), and the plasma-beta = 1 transition that occurs at slightly larger helioradii. Subsequently, in near-Earth space the solar wind impinges on the terrestrial magnetosphere, forming the bow shock, the magnetosheath, and the magnetopause. This interdisciplinary session invites observational, theoretical, and numerical studies that characterize these transitional regions and elucidate the physical processes that occur within and across these interfaces. Topics include changes in turbulence dynamics, plasma heating and acceleration mechanisms, energetic particle transport processes, and magnetic "switchback" formation. We also welcome studies of the global properties (e.g., location, shape, morphology) of these interfaces and their evolution with solar activity.
Co-Sponsor(s):
- NG - Nonlinear Geophysics
- SM - SPA-Magnetospheric Physics
Index Terms:
2114 Energetic particles [INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS]
2149 MHD waves and turbulence [INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS]
2164 Solar wind plasma [INTERPLANETARY PHYSICS]
7509 Corona [SOLAR PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND ASTRONOMY]
Primary Convener: Dr. Rohit Chhiber, BSc (Honours), MSc, PhD, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Heliospheric Science Division, Greenbelt, United States; University of Delaware, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Newark, United States
Conveners: Francesco Pecora, University of Delaware, Newark, United States, Sergio Servidio, Università della Calabria, Department of Physics, Rende, Italy and Prof. William H Matthaeus, University of Delaware, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Newark, DE, United States
See more of: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics