Premium
Composition and dynamics of the solar wind plasma
Author(s) -
Hundhausen A. J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg008i004p00729
Subject(s) - solar wind , corona (planetary geology) , physics , interplanetary spaceflight , coronal mass ejection , heliosphere , coronal hole , solar flare , nanoflares , coronal loop , solar physics , astronomy , astrophysics , astrobiology , plasma , quantum mechanics , venus
Although the coronal origin of the interplanetary plasma implies some general connection between solar and solar wind properties, strong evidence for specific relationships has emerged only recently. Three such relationships will be reviewed here; their observational and theoretical foundations will be discussed, as will their use in determining solar properties from solar wind observations. The first of these involves solar and interplanetary chemical compositions; emphasis will be placed on the implied concentration of helium (and other elements heavier than hydrogen) in the corona. The second relationship to be explored involves the effects of coronal and interplanetary dynamical processes on the properties of the undisturbed solar wind. Arguments for and against the extension of the basic coronal heating process well out into interplanetary space will be developed. The final relationship involves solar activity and properties of the disturbed solar wind. Attention will be focused on interplanetary shock waves produced by solar flares and on implications for the coronal deposition of energy released in flares.