Mixer Waves of the Solar Wind: How the Corona Heats Up ⚡ экспресс
A statistical survey of ion-scale waves recorded by Parker Solar Probe in the inner heliosphere was conducted. It was found that left-hand polarized waves (LHWs) are observed more frequently closer to the Sun, reaching ~30% of the time, and correspond to parallel ion-cyclotron wave storms that are continuous and steepen the turbulent energy spectra, facilitating the transfer of free energy from temperature anisotropy. Right-hand polarized waves (RHWs) are less common near the Sun and are consistent with oblique and parallel fast magnetosonic waves; their occurrence correlates well with enhanced parallel proton heat flux, indicating secondary populations. Using the SAVIC machine learning algorithm, a heat flux threshold was determined, above which proton beams likely trigger the instability of these waves. Thus, the trends in ion-scale wave distribution are linked to known free-energy sources for PSP encounter periods 3 through 24.
The solar wind isn't a calm stream but a bubbling soup of charged particles. Diving close to the Sun, the Parker probe picked up two types of stirring waves. Left-handed ones, like a whisk in a chef's hand, whip up the material when the temperature differs along and across the flow. They rage nearly a third of the time near the star, boosting the share of the fastest particles — much like a mixer pushing foam to the surface.
Right-handed waves
Fine analysis of light (spectroscopy) and machine learning captured the moment when thermal jets give birth to right-handed waves. Paradoxically, it's this invisible ripple, not grand eruptions, that heats the giant corona — its temperature is hundreds of times that of the solar surface. The rhythm of these waves determines space weather near Earth.
🎯 The solar wind carries away about the mass of Mount Everest every minute.