arXiv subjects

Olga Khabarova

Publications and source records attributed to Olga Khabarova.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Observation of Large-Scale Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability Wave Driven by a Coronal Mass Ejection

The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) can occur when there is a relative motion between two adjacent fluids. In the case of magnetized plasma, the shear velocity must exceed the local Alfvén speed for the instability to develop. The KHI produces nonlinear waves that eventually roll up into vortices and contribute to turbulence and dissipation. In the solar atmosphere KHI has been detected in coronal mass ejections (CMEs), jets, and prominences, mainly in the low corona. Only a few studies have reported the KHI in the upper corona, and its vortex development there has not been previously observed. We report the event with large-scale KHI waves observed from $\sim 6$ to 14~$R_{\odot}$ on 2024-Feb-16 using SOHO/LASCO and STEREO-A coronagraphs. KHI appeared during the passage of a fast CME and evolved into the nonlinear stage showing evidence of vortices. A closely timed subsequent CME in the same region has further developed the fully nonlinear KHI waves along its flank. We find that the radial speed of the CMEs exceeds the estimated local Alfven speed obtained from in-situ Parker Solar Probe (PSP) magnetic field data at perihelia. We propose that such events are rare because the fast CME created specific conditions favorable for instability growth in its trailing edge, including radial elongation of magnetic-field lines, reduced plasma density, and enhanced velocity and magnetic-field shear along the developing interface. The observed growth rate of KHI wave is in qualitative agreement with the theoretical predictions.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Electron-to-ion bulk speed ratio as a parameter reflecting the occurrence of strong electron-dominated current sheets in the solar wind

Current sheets (CSs) are preferred sites of magnetic reconnection and energy dissipation in collisionless astrophysical plasmas. Electric currents in them may be carried by both electrons and ions. In our prior theoretical studies of processes associated with the CS formation in turbulent plasmas, for which we utilized fully kinetic and hybrid code simulations with ions considered as particles and electrons - as a massless fluid, we found that electron-dominated CSs may form inside or nearby ion-dominated CSs. Electrons become the main carrier of the electric current and contributors to energy dissipation in electron-dominated CSs. These magneto-plasma structures represent a distinguished type of CSs and should not be mixed up with so-called electron-scale CSs. Our simulations show that such CSs are characterized by the electron-to-ion bulk speed ratio Ue/Ui increases. Theoretical predictions and high-resolution observations from the MMS mission suggest that strong electron-dominated CSs can be seen at ion scales. Therefore, we suggest that applying the Ue/Ui parameter to the solar wind data may allow locating the strongest electron-dominated CSs with an ordinary spacecraft resolution of one-three seconds at least approximately. The results show that, indeed, an impact of electron-dominated CSs on the plasma observed during a period of quiet solar wind conditions at 1 AU may be associated with sharp changes in Ue/Ui. Electron-dominated CSs are found to be localized in the vicinity of ion-dominated CSs identified via changes in the magnetic field and plasma parameters Ue/Ui, displaying the same clustering. We conclude that Ue/Ui may be used as one of key parameters for probing CSs in the solar wind and the role of electrons in them.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Automated identification of current sheets -- a new tool to study turbulence and intermittency in the solar wind

We propose a new method of the automated identification of current sheets (CSs) that represents a formalization of the visual inspection approach employed in case studies. CSs are often identified by eye via the analysis of characteristic changes in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and plasma parameters. Known visual and semi-automated empirical methods of CS identification are exact but do not allow a comprehensive statistical analysis of CS properties. Existing automated methods partially solve this problem. Meanwhile, these methods suggest an analysis of variations of the IMF and its direction only. In our three-parameter empirical method, we employ both the solar wind plasma and IMF parameters to identify CSs of various types. Derivatives of the IMF strength, the plasma beta and the ratio of the Alfv'en speed VA to the solar wind speed V taken with the one-second cadence are used. We find that the CS daily rate R correlates with the solar wind temperature T rather than with V and is proportional to the sum of the kinetic and thermal energy density ~ V2(N+5N')+10T(N+N'), where N'=2cm^-3 is the background level of the solar wind density N. Maxima of R are associated with stream/corotating interaction regions and interplanetary mass ejection sheaths. A multiyear list of CSs identified at 1 AU can be found at https://csdb.izmiran.ru

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2012

Puzzles of the interplanetary magnetic field in the inner heliosphere

Deviations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) from Parker's model are frequently observed in the heliosphere at different distances r from the Sun. Usually, it is supposed that the IMF behavior corresponds to Parker's model overall, but there is some turbulent component that impacts and disrupts the full picture of the IMF spatial and temporal distribution. However, the analysis of multi-spacecraft in-ecliptic IMF measurements from 0.29 AU to 5 AU shows that the IMF radial evolution is rather far from expected. The radial IMF component decreases with the adiabatic power index (|Br| \sim r^-5/3), the tangential component |Bt| \sim r^-1.1 and, the IMF strength B \sim r^-1.4. This means that the IMF is not completely frozen in the solar wind. Possibly, turbulent processes in the inner heliosphere significantly influence the IMF expansion. This means that the IMF is not completely frozen in the solar wind. It is possible that turbulent processes in the inner heliosphere significantly influence the IMF expansion. This is confirmed by the analysis of the Br distribution's radial evolution. We consider a quasi-continuous magnetic reconnection, occurring both at the heliospheric current sheet and at local current sheets inside the IMF sectors, to be a key process responsible for the solar wind turbulization with heliocentric distance as well as for the breakdown of the frozen-in IMF law.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2011

On the nature of the in-ecliptic interplanetary magnetic field's two-humped distribution at 1AU

It was found out that the distribution's shape of the in-ecliptic (as well as radial) component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) significantly changes with the heliocentric distance, which poorly corresponds to classical models of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) expansion. For example, distributions of the radial photospheric and the source surface's magnetic field in the ecliptic plane are Gaussian-like, the distribution of the radial IMF component at the Earth orbit demonstrates two-humped shape, and it becomes again Gaussian-like at 3-4 AU. These differences lead to lack of correspondence between simulations of the IMF behaviour at 1 AU and observations. Our results indicate that picture of the IMF expansion into space is more complicated than usually considered, and the sector structure is not the only source of the two-humped shape of the in-ecliptic or radial IMF component. We have analysed data from different spacecraft at the distances from 0.29 AU to 4 AU and found that the shape of the radial IMF component distribution strongly depends on a heliocentric distance and a heliolatitude. The "two-humped IMF" effect is most brightly expressed at low heliolatitudes at 0.7-2 AU, but it fully disappears at 3-4 AU. There is also dependence of the IMF distributions' view on a solar cycle due to active processes, such as solar flares and CMEs. We suppose that the in-ecliptic solar wind field at 1 AU is influenced by solar active regions in a high degree, and actually the distribution is the three-humped: two humps correspond to the IMF from the middle and high heliolatitudes and the third one is the theoretically expected distribution from the solar field nearby the heliomagnetic equator. Vanishing of the IMF zero-component with the distance from the Sun partially could be a result of a magnetic reconnection at the current sheets in the solar wind.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2011

Sharp changes of solar wind ion flux and density within and outside current sheets

Analysis of the Interball-1 spacecraft data (1995-2000) has shown that the solar wind ion flux sometimes increases or decreases abruptly by more than 20% over a time period of several seconds or minutes. Typically, the amplitude of such sharp changes in the solar wind ion flux (SCIFs) is larger than 0.5x10^8 cm^-2 s^-1. These sudden changes of the ion flux were also observed by the Solar Wind Experiment (SWE), on board the WIND spacecraft, as the solar wind density increases and decreases with negligible changes in the solar wind velocity. SCIFs occur irregularly at 1 AU, when plasma flows with specific properties come to the Earth's orbit. SCIFs are usually observed in slow, turbulent solar wind with increased density and interplanetary magnetic field strength. The number of times SCIFs occur during a day is simulated using the solar wind density, magnetic field, and their standard deviations as input parameters for a period of 5 years. A correlation coefficient of ~0.7 is obtained between the modelled and the experimental data. It is found that SCIFs are not associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), corotating interaction regions (CIRs), or interplanetary shocks; however, 85% of the sector boundaries are surrounded by SCIFs. The properties of the solar wind plasma for days with 5 or more SCIF observations are the same as those of the solar wind plasma at the sector boundaries. One possible explanation for the occurrence of SCIFs (near sector boundaries) is magnetic reconnection at the heliospheric current sheet or local current sheets. Other probable causes of SCIFs (inside sectors) are turbulent processes in the slow solar wind and at the crossings of flux tubes.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2008

Current Problems of Magnetic Storm Prediction and Possible Ways of Their Solving

Main problems of magnetic storm prediction and causes of low efficiency of medium-term prognosis are discussed. It is supposed, that possible way of their solving is searching for poor-investigated features of solar wind (for instance, solar wind density behavior before storms). The necessity of investigation not only severe storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), but origin of moderate and weak storms is shown. Examples of successful investigations in this direction are given.

physics.space-ph↗