SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Consideration of observed interplanetary shocks leads to the conclusion that a corotating forward shock has not been unambiguously identified at 1 AU. A reverse shock identified in September 1967 is a likely candidate for a corotating structure.
Solar energetic particle events observed in space have different properties depending on the class of associated flare. Impulsive flares, which occur low in the corona in regions of high energy density, are associated with particle events which are deficient in protons. These events are rarely associated with coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks. The vast majority of large, high energy proton events are associated with long duration flares, many of which are also associated with fast coronal mass ejections and strong interplanetary shocks. Such flare events originate relatively high in the corona.
Examination of separately determined helium and hydrogen bulk speeds in the solar wind show these to be equal, both on time scales of 30 min and 3 min. Observations of two interplanetary shocks and 12 discontinuities show the changes in bulk speed across them to take place simultaneously for the two species. Observations made at times of high helium abundance following an interplanetary shock, and at times of observation of colliding streams in the plasma, confirm the conclusion that, if bulk speed differences between species occur, they do so very rarely.
The February 2022 geomagnetic storm was a moderate but extended event that may have been associated with two interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) arrivals. The first of these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) was first visible in SOHO LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery on 29 January and may be associated with the arrival of an interplanetary shock at L1 late on 1 February, followed by the separate arrival of a flux rope at L1 approximately one day afterward. The second CME was first visible in SOHO LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery on 1 February and may be associated with the arrival of a weaker interplanetary shock at L1 late on 3 February, just hours after the SpaceX launch. While the second arrival was relatively weak, it further enhanced geomagnetic conditions that had resulted from the first arrival. This work analyzes the two CMEs, their propagation into interplanetary space, and their associated geomagnetic impacts.
A study has been made of 29 intense, solar particle events observed in the energy range 25-100 MeV/nuc near Earth in the years 1997 through 2001. It is found that the majority of the events (19/29) had Fe to O ratios which were reasonably constant with time and energy, and with values above coronal. These all originated on the Sun s western hemisphere and most had intensities that rose rapidly at the time of an associated flare, and coronal mass ejection (CME), and then decayed more gradually. Few interplanetary shocks were observed during these increases. The spectra were mainly power laws. The remaining 10 events had different intensity-time profiles and Fe to O ratios that varied with time and energy with values at or below coronal. Most of these originated near central meridian and 6 had strong interplanetary shocks that were observed near Earth. In general the spectra were not power laws but steepened at high energies, particularly for Fe. There were four events with two peaks in the intensity-time profiles, the first near the time of the associated flare and the other at shock passage. The results, considered in the light of other recent work, suggest that the high energy particles that occur shortly after flares are indeed flare particles. At the highest rigidities considered here shock-accelerated particles are uncommon and are observed only in association with unusually fast shocks.
A list of 33 magnetic clouds as identified in WIND magnetic field and plasma data has been compiled. The intervals for these events are provided as part of NASA/GSFC, WIND-MFI's Website under the URL http://lepmfi.qsfc.nasa.gov/mfi/mag_cloud publ.html#table The period covered in this study is from early 1995 to November 1998 which primarily occurs in the quiet part of the solar cycle. A force free, cylindrically symmetric, magnetic field model has been applied to the field data in 1-hour averaged form for all of these events (except one small event where 10 min avg's were used) and the resulting fit-parameters examined. Each event was provided a semi-quantitatively determined quality factor (excellent, good or poor). A set of 28 good or better cases, spanning a surprisingly large range of values for its various properties, was used for further analysis. These properties are, for example, durations, attitudes, sizes, asymmetries, axial field strengths, speeds, and relative impact parameters. They will be displayed and analyzed, along with some related derived quantities, with emphasis on typical vs unusual properties and on the magnetic fields magnetic clouds' relationships to the Sun and to upstream interplanetary shocks, where possible. For example, it is remarkable how narrowly distributed the speeds of these clouds are, and the overall average speed (390 techniques km/s) is less than that normally quoted for the average solar wind speed (420 km/s) despite the fact that many of these clouds are d"drivers" of interplanetary shocks. On average, a cloud appears to be a little less symmetric when the spacecraft is able to pass close to the cloud's axis as compared to a farther out passage. The average longitude and latitude (in GSE) of the axes of the clouds are 85 degrees and 8 degrees, respectively, with standard deviations near 40 degrees. Also, the half=yearly averaged axial magnetic flux has approximately tripled. almost monotonically, from about 6 to 17 X 10(exp 29) Mx over the first 3.5 years of consideration, but with a large uncertainty on each of the half-year estimates, because of small sampling. If true,this finding implies an approximate tripling of the events' solar fluxes over this period as it goes into solar maximum.
Our present understanding of the distribution functions of the solar wind ion and electron thermal/suprathermal populations will be reviewed covering selected theoretical and observational topics. Roughly half the review will be devoted to recent discoveries (since Solar Wind 7). Among recent results are those of the Ulysses mission. The SWICS experiment observed pick-up protons and alpha particles, and acceleration of these particles at interplanetary shocks. Positive ion phenomena observed by SWOOPS include enhanced proton-alpha particle differential streaming both: (1) at high latitudes; and (2) in the ecliptic beyond 1 AU in the vicinity of shocks. The SWOOPS positive ion observations also demonstrate relative constancy of the entropy per proton at high latitudes beyond about 2.5 AU. Double beaming in both protons and alphas is observed by SWOOPS on either side of the current sheet, but not within; a possible explanation is reconnection at the edge of the current sheet. SWOOPS observed bi-directional streaming of electrons beyond 2 AU not only within Coronal Mass Ejections, but also upstream of corotating interplanetary shocks. Latitudinal and radial gradients of Ulysses electron core and halo temperatures will be discussed, as will work in progress on the three dimensional (in velocity space) properties of ion distributions.
Evidence for two types of relatively large amplitude MHD waves upstream and downstream of quasi-parallel forward and reverse interplanetary shocks is presented. The first mode is an Alfven wave with frequencies (in the spacecraft frame) in the range of 0.025 to 0.07 Hz. This is a left-hand polarized mode and propagates within a few degrees of the ambient magnetic field. The second is a fast MHD mode with frequencies in the range of 0.025 to 0.17 Hz, right-hand polarization and propagating along the magnetic field. These waves are detected principally in association with quasi-parallel shock. The Alfven waves are found to have plasma rest frame frequencies in the range of 1.1 to 6.3 mHz with wavelengths in the order of 4.8 x 10 to the 8th power to 2.7 x 10 to the 9th power cm. Similarly, the fast MHD modes have rest frame frequencies in the range 1.6 to 26 mHz with typical wavelengths about 2.19 x 10 to the 8th power cm. The magnetic field power spectrum in the vicinity of these interplanetary shocks is much steeper than f to the -s/3 at high frequencies. The observed spectra have a high frequency dependence of f to the -2/5 to f to the -4.
Interplanetary coronal mass ejections, the interplanetary counterparts of coronal mass ejections at the Sun, are the major drivers of interplanetary shocks in the heliosphere, and are associated with modulations of the galactic cosmic ray intensity, both short term (Forbush decreases caused by the passage of the shock, post-shock sheath, and ICME), and possibly with longer term modulation. Using several in-situ signatures of ICMEs, including plasma temperature, and composition, magnetic fields, and cosmic ray modulations, made by near-Earth spacecraft, we have compiled a "comprehensive" list of ICMEs passing the Earth since 1996, encompassing solar cycle 23. We summarize the properties of these ICMEs, such as their occurrence rate, speeds and other parameters, the fraction of ICMEs that are classic magnetic clouds, and their association with solar energetic particle events, halo CMEs, interplanetary shocks, geomagnetic storms, shocks and cosmic ray decreases.
We report on the level of solar activity during cycles 23 and 24 as the cycles build toward the corresponding solar maxima. The prolonged minimum period that followed solar cycle 23 and the weaker magnetic field at the poles seem to have resulted in a weaker level of activity during cycle 24. The double speak structure often observed in the maximum phases seems to be present during cycle 24, with the first peak having a sunspot number of only N90. large solar energetic particle (SEP) events, major geomagnetic storms, and radio-emitting interplanetary shocks have been observed in relatively sma:ier numbers. While the number of large SEP events during the rise phase of cycles 24 is not too different from that of cycle 23, they are generally less intense. Five ground level enhancement (GlE) events occurred up to the first activity peak in cycle 23, while a lone GlE event has been observed during the corresponding phase in cycle 24. There were 35 large (Dst S -100 nT) geomagnetic storms during the first 4.5 years of cycle 23, while only 5 occurred during cycle 24. The subdued activity during cycle 23 is consistent with the low numbers of type II radio bursts, full halo CMEs, and interplanetary shocks.
The Polar Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) observes auroral responses to incident solar wind pressure pulses and interplanetary shocks such as those associated with coronal mass ejections. The arrival of a CME pressure pulse at the front of the magnetosphere results in highly disturbed geomagnetic conditions and a substantial increase in both dayside and nightside auroral precipitation. Our observations show a simultaneous brightening over broad areas of the dayside and nightside aurora in response to a pressure pulse, indicating that more magnetospheric regions participate as sources for auroral precipitation than during isolated substorms. We estimate the average energies of incident auroral electrons using Polar UVI images and compare the precipitation energies during pressure pulse associated events to those during isolated auroral substorms. Electron precipitation during substorms has average energies greater than 10 keV and is structured both in local time and magnetic latitude. For auroral intensifications following the arrival of a pressure pulse or interplanetary shock, electron precipitation is less spatially structured and has greater ux of lower energy electrons (Eave _ 7 keV) than during isolated substorm, onsets. The average energies of the precipitating electrons inferred from UVI are consistent with those measured in-situ by the FAST spacecraft. These observations quantify the differences between global and local auroral precipitation processes and will provide a valuable experimental check for models of sudden storm commencements and magnetospheric response to perturbations in the solar wind.
The Polar Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) observes aurora responses to incident solar wind pressure pulses and interplanetary shocks such its those associated with coronal mass ejections. Previous observations have demonstrated that the arrival of it pressure pulse at the front of the magnetosphere results in highly disturbed geomagnetic conditions and a substantial increase in both dayside and nightside aurora precipitations. Our observations show it simultaneous brightening over bread areas of the dayside and nightside auroral in response to a pressure pulse, indicating that more magnetospheric regions participate as sources for auroral precipitation than during isolate substorm. We estimate the characteristic energies of incident auroral electrons using Polar UVI images and compare the precipitation energies during pressure pulse associated event to those during isolated substorms. We estimate the characteristic energies of incident auroral electrons using Polar UVI images and compare the precipitation energies during pressure pulse associated events to those during isolated auroral substorms. Electron precipitation during substorms has characteristic energies greater than 10 KeV and is structured both in local time and in magnetic latitude. For auroral intensifications following the arrival of'a pressure pulse or interplanetary shock. Electron precipitation is less spatially structured and has greater flux of lower characteristic energy electrons (Echar less than 7 KeV) than during isolated substorm onsets. These observations quantify the differences between global and local auroral precipitation processes and will provide a valuable experimental check for models of sudden storm commencements and magnetospheric response to perturbations in the solar wind.
Evaluation of enhanced low-frequency plasma-wave levels detected near the Pioneer 8 multiple bow-shock crossings encountered beyond 120 earth radii (Bavassano et al., 1971) and of high-frequency plasma waves detected in the upstream region. It is suggested that the distant interaction of the solar wind and the magnetosheath produced nonthermal electrons of the type commonly found upstream from the subsolar shock. The bow-shock position is compared with fluid model predictions, and some distinctions between the standing bow shock and the propagating interplanetary shock are considered.
The detailed plasma (except for electrons) and magnetic field data from Pioneer 7 are presented for a proposed double-shock ensemble. The Ames Research Center plasma probe data are compared with that of the MIT probe. These data are compared with MHD theory to show that the discontinuities themselves satisfy the magnetic Hugoniot equations. The data are also compared with the theoretical predictions for the double-shock structure. The theory requires as input only the forward shock velocity, the original ambient solar wind conditions, and a reasonable assumption regarding the density and azimuthal magnetic field in the 'new' solar wind which is detected after passage of the reverse shock. A unique solution is then obtained for the theoretical piston and reverse shock positions as well as for the temporal plasma behavior for both infinite and finite electrical conductivities.
A multiple shock system was observed upstream (0.13 AU) of the earth by Pioneer 9 on February 2, 1969. The same system was observed at earth by Ogo 5 and was reported separately in the literature. This paper compares the two sets of observations in still further detail. Both magnetic-field and plasma data are used in a least-squares best-fit method to compute the characteristics of the fast forward shock wave (Pioneer 9 only) and two fast reverse shock waves. Nearly all major features (shock, piston, and tangential discontinuity) retained their characteristics during the transit of the shock ensemble from Pioneer 9 to Ogo 5. The genesis of the ensemble is believed to be due to a complex stream-stream interaction. A substantial density increase (including a large rise of alpha/proton abundance) at Ogo 5, but unobserved at Pioneer 9, is explained by a sudden meridional shift to a flow from below the ecliptic plane while the streams were en route to earth. This study demonstrates a spatial and temporal plasma inhomogeneity which is superimposed on the persistent major features.
The nature of the comet-solar wind interaction is studied by analyzing the detailed evolution of the plasma wave spectra of Comet Giacobini-Zinner across the interaction region. Electron heat fluxes and associated electron plasma waves, steepened low-frequency wave packets, and density fluctuations observed upstream of Giacobini-Zinner shocks are also found upstream of quasi-parallel bow shocks. Downstream, the pulsations in the cometary magnetic field magnitude, in addition to the large density spikes, are usually also found downstream of quasi-parallel bow shocks. Other similarities to interplanetary shocks and terrestrial bow shocks are described.
An extended region of enhanced magnetic field fluctuations is found upstream of some of the corotating shocks observed by Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 between 1 and 5 AU. This perturbed region is present when the corotating shock, generally quasi-perpendicular, becomes oblique or quasi-parallel due to a temporary out-of-spiral direction of the upstream magnetic field. The observed waves are almost not compressional. Their amplitude is a large fraction of the ambient field, and their frequency is around 1 mHz in the spacecraft frame. A brief discussion of the possible mechanisms of generation is given.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.