A Fundamental Instability for the Solar Wind

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 925; no. 2; pp. 106 - 112
• Main Author: Kellogg, Paul J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01.02.2022; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Atmospheric temperature; Atomic energy levels; Chromosphere; Distribution functions; Heating; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; Magnetohydrodynamic stability; Nuclear energy; Photosphere; Plasma instabilities; Remote sensing; Rockets; Solar magnetic field; Solar probes; Solar wind; Solar wind magnetic fields; Space plasmas; Space research

As has been known nearly since the beginning of space research with satellites and rockets that the temperature of the atmosphere of our Sun rises rapidly from the photosphere at about 6000 K to the order of 10 6 K. The major heating of the solar wind apparently occurs in a narrow region, the transi...