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Main Authors: Ayaz, Syed, Zank, Gary P., Khan, Imran A., Rivera, Yeimy J., Shalchi, Andreas, Zhao, L. -L.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.03267
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author Ayaz, Syed
Zank, Gary P.
Khan, Imran A.
Rivera, Yeimy J.
Shalchi, Andreas
Zhao, L. -L.
author_facet Ayaz, Syed
Zank, Gary P.
Khan, Imran A.
Rivera, Yeimy J.
Shalchi, Andreas
Zhao, L. -L.
contents A comprehensive understanding of solar coronal heating and charged particle acceleration remains one of the most critical challenges in space and astrophysical plasma physics. In this study, we explore the contribution of Alfvén waves, both in their kinetic (KAWs) and inertial (IAWs) regimes, to particle acceleration processes that ultimately lead to coronal heating. Using a kinetic plasma framework based on the generalized Vlasov-Maxwell model, we analyze the dynamics of these waves with a focus on the perpendicular components of the Poynting flux vectors and the net resonance speed of the particles. Our results show that both the magnitude and dissipation rate of the Poynting flux for KAWs and IAWs decrease with increasing electron-to-ion temperature ratio (T_e/T_i) and normalized perpendicular electron inertial length (c k_x / omega_pe). We evaluate the associated electric potentials and find that KAWs are significantly influenced in the high wavenumber (k_x rho_i) regime. IAWs, on the other hand, show a decrease in electric potential along the magnetic field and an increase across it when the perpendicular electric field (E_x) is enhanced. We also determine the net resonant speeds of particles in the perpendicular direction and show that these wave-particle interactions can efficiently heat the solar corona over large distances (R_Sun). Finally, we quantify the power transported by KAWs and IAWs through solar flux loop tubes, finding that both wave types deliver greater energy with increasing T_e/T_i and c k_x / omega_pe. These findings offer deeper insights into wave-driven heating and are relevant to solar wind and magnetospheric physics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_03267
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Solar Coronal Heating: Role of Kinetic and Inertial Alfvén Waves in Heating and Charged Particle Acceleration
Ayaz, Syed
Zank, Gary P.
Khan, Imran A.
Rivera, Yeimy J.
Shalchi, Andreas
Zhao, L. -L.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
A comprehensive understanding of solar coronal heating and charged particle acceleration remains one of the most critical challenges in space and astrophysical plasma physics. In this study, we explore the contribution of Alfvén waves, both in their kinetic (KAWs) and inertial (IAWs) regimes, to particle acceleration processes that ultimately lead to coronal heating. Using a kinetic plasma framework based on the generalized Vlasov-Maxwell model, we analyze the dynamics of these waves with a focus on the perpendicular components of the Poynting flux vectors and the net resonance speed of the particles. Our results show that both the magnitude and dissipation rate of the Poynting flux for KAWs and IAWs decrease with increasing electron-to-ion temperature ratio (T_e/T_i) and normalized perpendicular electron inertial length (c k_x / omega_pe). We evaluate the associated electric potentials and find that KAWs are significantly influenced in the high wavenumber (k_x rho_i) regime. IAWs, on the other hand, show a decrease in electric potential along the magnetic field and an increase across it when the perpendicular electric field (E_x) is enhanced. We also determine the net resonant speeds of particles in the perpendicular direction and show that these wave-particle interactions can efficiently heat the solar corona over large distances (R_Sun). Finally, we quantify the power transported by KAWs and IAWs through solar flux loop tubes, finding that both wave types deliver greater energy with increasing T_e/T_i and c k_x / omega_pe. These findings offer deeper insights into wave-driven heating and are relevant to solar wind and magnetospheric physics.
title Solar Coronal Heating: Role of Kinetic and Inertial Alfvén Waves in Heating and Charged Particle Acceleration
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.03267