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Holzer, T. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Holzer, T. E..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Modelling the low-latitude boundary layer with reconnection entry

We develop a one-dimensional Low Latitude Boundary Layer (LLBL) model for northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The boundary layer in this model is uniform in the direction normal to the magnetopause, a 'plateau-type' boundary layer. The boundary layer motion is decoupled from the magnetosheath motion and driven by the plasma pressure associated with the incoming solar wind plasma near local noon, which has become entrained on closed field lines as a result of reconnection in the cusp region. Dissipation in the ionosphere at the feet of the boundary layer field lines opposes this motion. There are two physical solutions for the model. In one, the boundary layer reaches a terminal velocity in the tail as the boundary layer plasma effectively joins the solar wind flow. In the other solution, the flow is nearly stopped in the far tail. In combination with other mechanisms, this latter solution may correspond to the case in which the boundary layer plasma participates in magnetospheric convection and returns sunward. The density, velocity, and thickness as functions of distance from local noon are studied, assuming that the magnetopause hasa elliptical shape and the magnetospheric field is dipolar.

Song, P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A comparison of the reduced and approximate systems for the time dependent computation of the polar wind and multiconstituent stellar winds

The paper derives the 'reduced' system of equations commonly used to describe the time evolution of the polar wind and multiconstituent stellar winds from the equations for a multispecies plasma with known temperature profiles by assuming that the electron thermal speed approaches infinity. The reduced system is proved to have unbounded growth near the sonic point of the protons for many of the standard parameter cases. For the same parameter cases, the unmodified system exhibits growth in some of the Fourier modes, but this growth is bounded. An alternate system (the 'approximate' system) in which the electron thermal speed is slowed down is introduced. The approximate system retains the mathematical behavior of the unmodified system and can be shown to accurately describe the smooth solutions of the unmodified system. Other advantages of the approximate system over the reduced system are discussed.

Browning, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A two-fluid model of the solar wind

A method is presented for the integration of the two-fluid solar-wind equations which is applicable to a wide variety of coronal base densities and temperatures. The method involves proton heat conduction, and may be applied to coronal base conditions for which subsonic-supersonic solar wind solutions exist.

Sandbaek, O.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The solar wind mass flux problem

The variation of the proton flux with coronal temperature and density in thermally driven solar wind models is discussed. It is shown that the rapid increase of the proton flux with increasing temperature can be reduced by adiabatic cooling of the expanding plasma. A significant coronal helium abundance can also act as a 'regulator' for the solar wind proton flux.

Leer, E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The solar coronal mass ejection of 20-21 November, 1973

An analysis of the polarization signal of the nonloop-like coronal transient event of November 20-21 is presented. It is found that the event can be described as an axisymmetric-cylindrical or conical volume, the boundaries of which remain constant over its lifetime. The results are used to place bounds on the variation of transient spatial density with height and on the variation of density with time.

Macqueen, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic waves in coronal holes and the solar wind

Fast-mode MHD waves in the solar corona can propagate in any direction relative to the background magnetic field. In coronal holes, they refract into regions of low Alfven speed and are relatively difficult to damp. These characteristics lead to the possibility that fast-mode waves transport energy from magnetically closed coronal regions into coronal holes, that they are refracted into the central regions of coronal holes, and that they deposit most of their energy in the region of supersonic flow of high-speed solar wind streams emanating from coronal holes. To investigate whether this possibility might be realized and fast-mode waves might play a significant role in driving high-speed streams, a parameter study is carried out to examine the propagation and damping of fast-mode waves in various coronal hole models. This study indicates a broad range of coronal hole parameters for which fast-mode waves can play such a role and emphasizes the need for an improved knowledge of large-scale coronal magnetic structure, which is required before any firm conclusions can be drawn.

Fla, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The solar wind ionization state as a coronal temperature diagnostic

The 'frozen' solar wind ionization state within a few solar radii of the photosphere suggests that ion measurements at 1 AU may yield information on the electron temperature conditions at the base of the coronal expansion. The freezing-in process is examined in light of traditional assumptions as to coronal expansion, where electron temperature decreases monotonically with height, the bulk flow of all charge states of a given ion species are equal to the proton speed, and the ion outflow is spherically symmetric. The consequences of the relaxation of these assumptions include the underestimation of the magnitude of a temperature maximum occurring near the freezing-in radius. Because it is associated with high speed, low density flow, an areal divergence that is faster than that in a spherical outflow lowers the ionization state freezing-in level relative to that which is typical in spherically symmetric expansion.

Owocki, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The acceleration and propagation of solar flare energetic particles

Observations and theories of particle acceleration in solar flares are reviewed. The most direct signatures of particle acceleration in flares are gamma rays, X-rays and radio emissions produced by the energetic particles in the solar atmosphere and energetic particles detected in interplanetary space and in the Earth's atmosphere. The implication of these observations are discussed. Stochastic and shock acceleration as well as acceleration in direct electric fields are considered. Interplanetary particle propagation is discussed and an overview of the highlights of both current and promising future research is presented.

Forman, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Possible Space Missions for Solar Research After Solar Maximum Mission

This ad hoc panel met in February 1977 to consider the needs of solar physics for space missions after the scheduled flight of Solar Maximum Mission in 1979. We were concerned only with scientific needs and opportunities. Neither budgetary implications nor payload feasibility were considered. This report on the panel deliberations therefore makes suggestions only. We hope it will be a useful input to the more extensive and careful analysis of the appropriate committees, such as the Solar Physics Working Group. We have made no attempt to prioritize our proposed mission. The following possible missions are describes briefly: A Solar Terrestrial Environment Mission; two versions of a Stereo Mission; a Large Scale Solar Structure Mission; a Solar Atmosphere Mission; a Solar Particle Acceleration Mission; and a Solar Pinhole Mission. We also append a brief account of the proposed Solar Probe Mission.

Sturrock, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Solar wind heating beyond 1 AU

The effect of an interplanetary atomic hydrogen gas on solar wind proton, electron and alpha-particle temperatures beyond 1 AU is considered. It is shown that the proton temperature (and probably also the alpha-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, 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.

Holzer, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Interaction of the solar wind with the neutral component of the interstellar gas.

A model is constructed to represent the interaction between the solar wind and the neutral component of the interstellar gas. It is found that the neutral gas has several important effects on the solar-wind expansion beyond the orbit of the earth and that it should be possible to infer the presence of the neutral gas from observations of the solar wind made by a space probe traveling into the outer solar system. The effects include a deceleration and heating of the supersonic solar wind, a cooling of and pressure reduction in the subsonic solar wind, and a tightening of the spiral magnetic field in the supersonic solar wind.

Holzer, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Neutral hydrogen in cometary comas.

The strong L alpha radiation observed recently in comets Tago-Sato-Kosaka and Bennett can be explained in terms of the resonant scattering of solar L alpha radiation on neutral hydrogen formed by the photodissociation of H2O which is vaporized from a nucleus having an ice core. A complete hydrodynamic description of an atmosphere composed of H2O and its daughter products OH, H and O coupled through frictional interaction as well as production and loss processes is given. Numerical results are computed in a typical case, and it is found that a temperature of about 3000 K for the cometary atmosphere provides the best fit with observation.

Mendis, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Collisionless solar wind protons: A comparison of kinetic and hydrodynamic descriptions

Kinetic and hydrodynamic descriptions of a collisionless solar wind proton gas are compared. Heat conduction and viscosity are neglected in the hydrodynamic formulation but automatically included in the kinetic formulation. The results of the two models are very nearly the same, indicating that heat conduction and viscosity are not important in the solar wind proton gas beyond about 0.1 AU. It is concluded that the hydrodynamic equations provide a valid description of the collisionless solar wind protons, and hence that future models of the quiet solar wind should be based on a hydrodynamic formulation.

Leer, E.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Solar wind ion composition

Solar wind ion energy per charge spectra, comparing to Vela 3A observations for composition

Axford, W. I.↗