Abstract
The effect of an interplanetary atomic hydrogen gas on solar wind proton, electron and α-particle temperatures beyond 1 AU is considered. It is shown that the proton temperature (and probably also the α-particle temperature) reaches a minimum between 2 AU and 4 AU, depending on values chosen for solar wind and interstellar gas parameters. Heating of the electron gas depends primarily on the thermal coupling of the protons and electrons. For strong coupling (whenT p ≳T e ), the electron temperature reaches a minimum between 4 AU and 8 AU, but for weak coupling (Coulomb collisions only), the electron temperature continues to decrease throughout the inner solar system. A spacecraft travelling to Jupiter should be able to observe the heating effect of the solar wind-interplanetary hydrogen interaction, and from such observations it may be possible of infer some properties of the interstellar neutral gas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axford, W. I.: 1972, in C. P. Sonett, P. J. Coleman, Jr., and J. M. Wilcox (eds.)Solar Wind, NASA SP-308, p. 609.
Bame, S. J., Hundhausen, A. J., Asbridge, J. R., and Strong, J. B.: 1968,Phys. Rev. Letters 20, 393.
Bertaux, J. L. and Blamont, J. E.: 1971,Astron. Astrophys. 11, 200.
Blum, P. W. and Fahr, H. J.: 1969,Nature 323, 936.
Davidson, R. C., Hammer, D. A., Haber, I., Wagner, C. E.: 1972,Phys. Fluids 15, 317.
Fahr, H. J.: 1972,Non-thermal Solar Wind Heating by Supra-thermal Ions, Report 72-10, Forschungs-berichte der Astronomischen Institute, Bonn, 36 pp.
Holzer, T. E.: 1972,J. Geophys. Res. 77, 6995.
Hundhausen, A. J.: 1972,The Coronal Expansion and the Solar Wind, Springer, New York, in press.
Johnson, H. E.: 1972,Planetary Space Sci. 20, 829.
Skorupski, A., Zakowicz, W., and Infeld, E.: 1971,Phys. Fluids 14, 438.
Thomas, G. E.: 1972, in C. P. Sonett, P. J. Coleman, Jr., and J. M. Wilcox (eds.),Solar Wind, NASA SP-308, p. 688.
Thomas, G. E. and Krassa, R. F.: 1971,Astron. Astrophys. 11, 218.
Wallis, M. K.: 1971,Transonic Deceleration of the Solar Wind via Planetary, Cometary or Interstellar Gas, Report TRITA-EPP-71-01, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 24 pp.
Wallis, M. K.: 1972,Local-Hydrogen and the Background Lyman Alpha Pattern and Interaction between the Interstellar Medium and Solar Wind Plasma, Report TRITA-EPP-72-03, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 51 pp.
Wu, C. S. and Davidson, R. C.: 1972,J. Geophys. Res. 77, 5399.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Currently a National Research Council Resident Research Associate.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holzer, T.E., Leer, E. Solar wind heating beyond 1 AU. Astrophys Space Sci 24, 335–347 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02637160
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02637160