Acceleration Processes in the Solar Wind

Investigator(s):

Valentin Shevchenko (PI)

Sponsor:

University of California-San Diego, CA 92093 8585340246

Start Date/Expiration Date

2002-08-15 to 2005-07-31 (amended 2004-06-24)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$203,517

Abstract: A new theoretical model of resonant cyclotron interaction of ions with Alfven waves in the divergent solar wind plasma will be constructed. It is based on a scale separation between the characteristic scales of wave-particle interaction (microscopic scale) and the scales of nonhomogeneity (macroscopic scale). The latter is five to six orders of magnitude larger than the former. The overarching goal of the study is to explain recent observations of the solar wind which have revealed that (1) the bulk speed of the particles considerably exceeds that of the protons, (2) the differential motion of the ions is aligned along the magnetic field, and (3) the differential speed follows the local Alfven speed.

NSF Org:

ATM - Division of Atmospheric Sciences

Award Number:

0210155

Award Instrument:

Continuing grant

Program Manager:

Paul Bellaire
ATM Division of Atmospheric Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences

NSF Program(s):

SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL

Field Application(s):

Space

Program Reference Code(s):

UNASSIGNED, 0000

Program Element Code(s):

1523