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Electron and proton heating by solar wind turbulence

Abstract
Previous formulations of heating and transport associated with strong magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence are generalized to incorporate separate internal energy equations for electrons and protons. Electron heat conduction is included. Energy is supplied by turbulent heating that affects both electrons and protons and is exchanged between them via collisions. Comparison to available Ulysses data shows that a reasonable accounting for the data is provided when (1) the energy exchange timescale is very long and (2) the deposition of heat due to turbulence is divided, with 60% going to proton heating and 40% into electron heating. Heat conduction, determined here by an empirical fit, plays a major role in describing the electron data.
Type
Journal Article
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Breech, B., Matthaeus, W.H., Cranmer, S.R., Kasper, J.C. & Oughton, S. (2009). Electron and proton heating by solar wind turbulence. Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 114, A09103.
Date
2009
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Degree
Supervisors
Rights
This article has been published in the journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics. © 2009 American Geophysical Union. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the copyright holder.