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Recent developments in theory of solar wind
Author(s) -
Parker E. N.
Publication year - 1971
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/rg009i003p00825
Subject(s) - physics , corona (planetary geology) , solar wind , coronal hole , geophysics , thermal conduction , mechanics , coronal mass ejection , astrophysics , atmospheric sciences , plasma , astrobiology , quantum mechanics , venus , thermodynamics
Current problems and developments in the theory of the large‐scale expansion of the solar corona are reviewed. The outstanding question is whether the energy supply to the quiet corona is mainly thermal conduction outward from a region of active heating at its base or mainly wage propagation outward from the base. It is suggested that the question can be settled only when the properties of the wind can be sampled over a wide range of radial distance from the sun, from far inside the orbit of earth to well beyond. It has been suggested that hydromagnetic waves may drive the expansion of the active corona by direct transfer of momentum as well as energy.