Radial Spectral Evolution of the Elsässer Variable z − in the Slow Solar Wind

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 966; no. 1; pp. 144 - 150
• Main Authors: Wu, Honghong, Huang, Shiyong, He, Jiansen, Yang, Liping, Yuan, Zhigang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01.05.2024; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Evolution; Frequency ranges; Heliosphere; Interplanetary turbulence; Jupiter; Magnetic fields; Magnetohydrodynamics; Power spectra; Slow solar wind; Solar probes; Solar wind; Solar wind turbulence; Spacecraft; Turbulence models; Wind observation
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad3728

The nature of the Elsässer variable z − plays a significant role in the understanding of solar wind turbulence. The radial spectral evolution of z − observed by the Helios spacecraft suggests that z − has a persistent background spectrum in the low-frequency range from 0.3 to 1 au. However, the radial evolution in the near-Sun solar wind remains unknown. Here we use Parker Solar Probe measurements to analyze the averaged spectra of z − in the slow solar wind from 0.1 to 0.5 au and compare the results with the WIND observations at 1 au. We find that the averaged spectra of z − do not show the low-frequency break at the low-frequency breakpoint on the power spectra of z + , magnetic field, and velocity. The energy in the frequency range of 10 −4 –10 −2 Hz demonstrates a radial decay from 0.1 to 0.5 au and keeps nearly constant to 1 au. The spectral index of z − gradually decreases from −1.27 at 0.1–0.2 au to −1.59 at 0.4–0.5 au and then slowly declines to −1.70 at 1 au. The radial behaviors of the ∥, ⊥ 1 , and ⊥ 2 components of z − in the field-aligned coordinates are similar to that of the trace of z − . Our findings suggest a faster radial spectral evolution of z − in the near-Sun solar wind and provide strong observational constraints for the solar wind turbulence model.