for both the slow and the fast modes

impossible for the fast mode

for the slow mode:

 impossible for the fast mode

for the slow mode:

 impossible for the fast mode

for the slow mode:

 Analytical Solar Wind Models

During this lecture, we will discuss different

analytical models for the solar wind.

We will start with the Parker model.

These models are explained very well in the book

“an introduction to plasma astrophysics and
magnetohydrodynamics” by Marcel Goossens
(chapter 6).
 Parker’s solar wind model
the solar wind was theoreticized in 1958 by
Eugene Parker

the first solar wind measurements were obtained

in 1959 by the soviet satellite Luna-1

the presence of the solar wind was definitely

confirmed in 1963 by Mariner’s measurements

we will discuss here the original model designed

by E. Parker
 Parker’s solar wind model
assume an isothermal , steady solar wind

where the Lorentz force is neglected

the velocity is taken to be purely radial and only
spherically symmetric solutions are considered:
 Parker’s solar wind model
since:

we have:

we define: and thus find:

 Parker’s solar wind model

the solar wind is subsonic close to the Sun and

supersonic at 1 AU
somewhere in between:
and the LHS is zero.
if we only consider continuous solutions, the RHS
must also be zero and:

is thus the distance from the Sun where the wind

become supersonic
 Parker’s solar wind model

but we have:

so:
and:
 Parker’s solar wind model

at the sonic point:

Parker’s solar wind model
Parker’s solar wind model
 Parker’s solar wind model
the density can easily be found since:
 Parker’s solar wind model
Parker was pleased with his theory and tried to publish it
in the Astrophysical Journal

the referee’s report suggested that the author should

spend some time in the library to familiarize himself with
the solar corpuscular radiation before attempting to write
a scientific paper on the subject!

There was no specific criticism of the mathematics or of

the interpretation of the observations. But for all their
hostility, the two referees could find no scientific error.
 Parker’s solar wind model
the editor of ApJ (future Nobel prince winner Chandra-
sekhar) was also skeptical about the paper!
he asked Parker: “do you really want to publish this
paper? I have sent it to two eminent referees, and they
both say the paper is wrong”

Parker replied that “the referees had no scientific criticism”

and Chandrasekhar published the paper

it was not the first time that Parker had problem publishing his
work, one of his manuscript was once rejected with the editor
stating that “anyone who knows anything about astrophysics
knows that magnetic fields have nothing to do with it”
 Rotating solar wind
we will see how the rotation of the Sun can be included in
the model

close to the Sun, at a reference position the azimuthal

velocity is given by:
 Rotating solar wind

conservation of angular momentum: the azimuthal

velocity decreases with radial distances
 Rotating solar wind
and

and since , we have

and
 Rotating solar wind

we also have:

thus:

and:

if the LHS is zero, then the RHS must be zero

 Rotating solar wind

the critical point(s) thus satisfy the following equation:

and:
 Rotating solar wind

and:

if Δ<0 : no critical point

if Δ=0 : one critical point
if Δ>0 : two critical points (except if one of the critical
point is below r0)

in the solar case, there is only one critical point

 Rotating solar wind

but we have:
so:

and:
 Rotating solar wind

at the sonic point, and

 Rotating solar wind

the solution is very similar to Parker’s solution

this is because the Sun is not a fast rotator

for fast rotating stars, including the rotation can

change the results dramatically (e.g. two critical
points)
 the Weber-Davis model
in this model, we don’t neglect the force
we don’t assume a constant temperature:

we assume:
the Weber-Davis model
the Weber-Davis model
 the Weber-Davis model
and

we define: and
 the Weber-Davis model

close to the Sun MA<1 At 1 AU, MA>1

somewhere in between, MA=1 and r=rA
then, in order for vφ to remain finite, we must have:
 the Weber-Davis model

after tedious calculations, far beyond the scope of

this class, we could find:
 the Weber-Davis model

after even more tedious calculations, we could plot:

 Is a static solar corona possible?
using the same assumptions as Parker (no magnetic
forces, isothermal, gravity), we will show that a static
corona is impossible
Is a static solar corona possible?

a static corona is
thus not possible!
 Magnetic Field Reconstruction:
in the low beta region, the
Lorentz force dominate and we
can make the force-free field
approximation:

so either
current-free or potential magnetic fields

plasma beta over active regions or force-free fields

 Current Free Magnetic Field:
-we first consider a magnetic field configuration that does not
generate any electrical currents:

the magnetic field satisfies the Laplace equation

and is thus potential

thus we write
where is the scalar magnetic potential
 Current Free Magnetic Field:
we will show that a potential field is a configuration that contains
the smallest amount of energy (if B normal is potential at the boundary )

the magnetic energy integrated in a given volume is:

we decompose the field into the potential contribution

and the non potential contribution with

with
 Current Free Magnetic Field:

(Gauss's theorem) since B1n=0

thus

so the potential field configuration contains the smallest amount

of energy (if B normal is potential at the boundary )
 Current Free Magnetic Field:
general solution:

we look for a solution that has such a form:

separation of variables technique

the 3 terms must be equal to constants since

x, y, and z are independent variables

function function function

of x only of y only of z only

thus:

the variables can’t have all the same sign (since their sum is equal to zero)
we assigned a positive value to the 3rd variable to obtain B=0 when z is infinite
(see below)
 Current Free Magnetic Field:

let’s assume that:

thus:
 Current Free Magnetic Field:
similarly:
 Current Free Magnetic Field:

if we know we can find the coefficients

for instance, if , then:
Current Free Magnetic Field:
Current Free Magnetic Field:
Current Free Magnetic Field:
potential field source
surface (PFSS) model

line of sight photo-

spheric measurements
are used as boundary
condition

these reconstructed
magnetic fields do not
contain free magnetic
energy (bad, for
instance, for active
regions)