An approximate analytic solution to the coupled problems of coronal heating and solar-wind acceleration

Between the base of the solar corona at $r=r_\textrm {b}$ and the Alfvén critical point at $r=r_\textrm {A}$ , where $r$ is heliocentric distance, the solar-wind density decreases by a factor $ \mathop > \limits_\sim 10^5$ , but the plasma temperature varies by a factor of only a few. In this paper, I show that such quasi-isothermal evolution out to $r=r_\textrm {A}$ is a generic property of outflows powered by reflection-driven Alfvén-wave (AW) turbulence, in which outward-propagating AWs partially reflect, and counter-propagating AWs interact to produce a cascade of fluctuation energy to small scales, which leads to turbulent heating. Approximating the sub-Alfvénic region as isothermal, I first present a brief, simplified calculation showing that in a solar or stellar wind powered by AW turbulence with minimal conductive losses, $\dot {M} \simeq P_\textrm {AW}(r_\textrm {b})/v_\textrm {esc}^2$ , $U_{\infty } \simeq v_\textrm {esc}$ , and $T\simeq m_\textrm {p} v_\textrm {esc}^2/[8 k_\textrm {B} \ln (v_\textrm {esc}/\delta v_\textrm {b})]$ , where $\dot {M}$ is the mass outflow rate, $U_{\infty }$ is the asymptotic wind speed, $T$ is the coronal temperature, $v_\textrm {esc}$ is the escape velocity of the Sun, $\delta v_\textrm {b}$ is the fluctuating velocity at $r_\textrm {b}$ , $P_\textrm {AW}$ is the power carried by outward-propagating AWs, $k_\textrm {B}$ is the Boltzmann constant, and $m_\textrm {p}$ is the proton mass. I then develop a more detailed model of the transition region, corona, and solar wind that accounts for the heat flux $q_\textrm {b}$ from the coronal base into the transition region and momentum deposition by AWs. I solve analytically for $q_\textrm {b}$ by balancing conductive heating against internal-energy losses from radiation, $p\,\textrm {d} V$ work, and advection within the transition region. The density at $r_\textrm {b}$ is determined by balancing turbulent heating and radiative cooling at $r_\textrm {b}$ . I solve the equations of the model analytically in two different parameter regimes. In one of these regimes, the leading-order analytic solution reproduces the results of the aforementioned simplified calculation of $\dot {M}$ , $U_\infty$ , and $T$ . Analytic and numerical solutions to the model equations match a number of observations.

A full relativistic thin disc - the physics of the plunging region and the value of the stress at the ISCO

The widely used Novikov-Thorne relativistic thin disc equations are only valid down to the radius of the innermost-stable circular orbit (ISCO). This leads to an undetermined boundary condition at the ISCO, known as the inner stress of the disc, which sets the luminosity of the disc at the ISCO and introduces considerable ambiguity in accurately determining the mass, spin and accretion rate of black holes from observed spectra. We resolve this ambiguity by self-consistently extending the relativistic disc solution through the ISCO to the black hole horizon by calculating the inspiral of an average disc particle subject to turbulent disc forces, using a new particle-in-disc technique. Traditionally it has been assumed that the stress at the ISCO is zero, with material plunging approximately radially into the black hole at close to the speed of light. We demonstrate that in fact the inspiral is less severe, with several (∼4 − 17) orbits completed before the horizon. This leads to a small non-zero stress and luminosity at and inside the ISCO, with a local surface temperature at the ISCO between ∼0.15 − 0.3 times the maximum surface temperature of the disc, in the case where no dynamically important net magnetic field is present. For a range of disc parameters we calculate the value of the inner stress/surface temperature, which is required when fitting relativistic thin disc models to observations. We resolve a problem in relativistic slim disc models in which turbulent heating becomes inaccurate and falls to zero inside the plunging region.

Theory and observations of switchbacks’ evolution in the solar wind

<p>Alfvénic fluctuations represent the dominant contributions to turbulent fluctuations in the solar wind, especially, but not limited to, the fastest streams with velocity of the order of 600-700 km/s. Alfvénic fluctuations can contribute to solar wind heating and acceleration via wave pressure and turbulent heating. Observations show that such fluctuations are characterized by a nearly constant magnetic field amplitude, a condition which remains largely to be understood and that may be an indication of how fluctuations evolve and relax in the expanding solar wind. Interestingly, measurements from Parker Solar Probe have shown the ubiquitous and persistent presence of the so-called switchbacks. These are magnetic field lines which are strongly perturbed to the point that they produce local inversions of the radial magnetic field. The corresponding signature of switchbacks in the velocity field is that of local enhancements in the radial speed (or jets) that display the typical velocity-magnetic field correlation that characterizes Alfvén waves propagating away from the Sun. While there is not yet a general consensus on what is the origin of switchbacks and their connection to coronal activity, a first necessary step to answer these important questions is to understand how they evolve and how long they can persist in the solar wind. Here we investigate the evolution of switchbacks. We address how their evolution is affected by parametric instabilities and the possible role of expansion, by comparing models with the observed radial evolution of the fluctuations’ amplitude. We finally discuss what are the implications of our results for models of switchback generation and related open questions.</p>