ISSN:
1572-946X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The reciprocal influence of the electrons and protons, on one side, and the α-particles, on the other side in the quiet solar wind is investigated within the framework of a conductive three-fluid model (with frictional forces included). For this purpose two mathematical methods are used, namely: I. Simultaneous solution of the fluid equations for all three species; and II. Solution of two-fluid equations (for electrons and protons) followed by that of a ‘modified’ one-fluid equation for the α-particles (in which the two-fluid solutions are used for electrons and protons). The results of our investigation indicate the following: (a)The macroscopic α-particle characteristics as obtained from the two methods of solution are almost identical. Thus, the differences between the ‘three-fluid’ and ‘two-fluid’ characteristics of the electrons and protons represent a second order (and negligible) effect on the α-particle characteristics. In both approaches, the frictional interaction between α-particles and protons raises the (lower) α-particle streaming velocity to that of the protons and decreases the relative α to proton density ratio to a value about 0.035, as observed at 1 AU, (b)The electron and proton characteristics obtained from ‘three-fluid’ and ‘two-fluid’ solutions are similar, except for the proton temperature. The ‘two-fluid’ solution providesT p-values which, though within the observational error, are larger than those obtained from the simultaneous three-fluid solution (at 1 AU, the difference amounts to about 30%). Thus, the α-particles affect the temperature profile of the protons in the solar wind through heat exchange (mainly), dynamical friction, as well as through their contribution to the interplanetary electrostatic field.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00655905
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