Decoding the formation of hammerhead ion populations observed by Parker Solar Probe

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Shaaban, Shaaban M., Lazar, M., López, R. A., Yoon, P. H., Poedts, S.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2024
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author Shaaban, Shaaban M.
Lazar, M.
López, R. A.
Yoon, P. H.
Poedts, S.
author_facet Shaaban, Shaaban M.
Lazar, M.
López, R. A.
Yoon, P. H.
Poedts, S.
contents In situ observations by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) have revealed new properties of the proton velocity distributions, including hammerhead features that suggest non-isotropic broadening of the beams. The present work proposes a very plausible explanation for the formation of these populations through the action of a proton firehose-like instability triggered by the proton beam. The quasi-linear (QL) theory proposed here shows that the resulting right-hand (RH) waves have two consequences on the protons: (i) reduce the relative drift between the beam and the core, but above all, (ii) induce a strong perpendicular temperature anisotropy, specific to the observed hammerhead ion strahl. Moreover, the long-run QL results suggest that these hammerhead distributions are rather transitory states, still subject to relaxation mechanisms, of which instabilities like the one discussed here are very likely involved.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_01997
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Decoding the formation of hammerhead ion populations observed by Parker Solar Probe
Shaaban, Shaaban M.
Lazar, M.
López, R. A.
Yoon, P. H.
Poedts, S.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
Space Physics
In situ observations by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) have revealed new properties of the proton velocity distributions, including hammerhead features that suggest non-isotropic broadening of the beams. The present work proposes a very plausible explanation for the formation of these populations through the action of a proton firehose-like instability triggered by the proton beam. The quasi-linear (QL) theory proposed here shows that the resulting right-hand (RH) waves have two consequences on the protons: (i) reduce the relative drift between the beam and the core, but above all, (ii) induce a strong perpendicular temperature anisotropy, specific to the observed hammerhead ion strahl. Moreover, the long-run QL results suggest that these hammerhead distributions are rather transitory states, still subject to relaxation mechanisms, of which instabilities like the one discussed here are very likely involved.
title Decoding the formation of hammerhead ion populations observed by Parker Solar Probe
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.01997