arXiv subjects

Richard Sydora

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Sydora.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Direct Evidence of Non-Ideal Dissipative Dynamics in Solar Wind Magnetic Switchbacks

Magnetic switchbacks, large-amplitude, localized Alfvenic like rotations of the solar wind magnetic field, have been the subject of intensive investigation, with approximately 200 refereed papers published in the last decade. Yet, fundamental controversies persist regarding whether switchbacks can be described with Ideal MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) physics or Hall-MHD physics and whether their origin is at the solar surface or in the solar wind. To settle these controversies, we present Parker Solar Probe electric field measurements between 13 and 40 solar radii, which show that switchbacks have non-zero electric fields in the plasma frame, a finding that definitively settles the physics controversy by proving that switchbacks are Hall-MHD, not Ideal MHD, structures. Along with these electric fields, there are enhanced Poynting vectors having three components with similar magnitudes that exist only inside the switchbacks. These facts contradict the view of switchbacks as simple outward-propagating pulses. Together, they resolve one controversy by showing that switchbacks in the young solar wind are a non-MHD process. They contribute to the second (source) controversy by identifying switchbacks as sites of active, in-situ, evolution. These findings provide a new framework for understanding energy transport and dissipation in astrophysical plasmas.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Measurements on the kinetic physics in streamer dynamics

A major goal of solar physics is understanding the transition of the medium from the closed-loop magnetic configuration of the corona to the open structure of the heliospheric current sheet. The evolution of solar wind streamers, an essential component of this transition, has been observed in-situ for the first time by measuring a pass through a streamer stalk at 11.7 solar radii. A plasma rest frame DC electric field, reaching an amplitude of 400 mV/m, was observed as the magnetic field changed from +1100 nT to -1100 nT. This electric field violates the frozen in condition so it must be understood via the non-MHD Hall term of the Generalized Ohm's Law. Two plasma regimes containing the large electric field were observed. In the first regime, the magnetic field was large, the ion beta was small (~0.1), the ratio of the ion skin depth to ion gyroradius was large (>10), and the current of ~0.3 mA/m2 was carried by electrons. In the second regime, the magnetic field was small, the ion beta was large (~10), the ion skin depth was equal to the ion gyroradius, and the ~10 mA/m2 current was carried by the ions. Also, measurements during 15 such crossings showed that the plasma flow speed inside the current sheets exceeded that outside six times and the 326 km/sec average speed inside the current sheets exceeded the 266 km/sec outside. Such findings challenge the traditional consensus that streamers are the source of the "slow" solar wind.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Intermingled open and closed magnetic field lines near the radial origin of the heliospheric current sheet

Aims. To investigate the magnetic field geometry and waves in the region near the Sun where the heliospheric current sheet is formed. Methods. One good example of apparent open and closed field lines was found and its fields and plasmas were analyzed. Results. The radial component of the magnetic field (the Z-component) measured on the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) changed sign between 12:00 and 13:00 UT on March 30, 2024, when the spacecraft was at 13 solar radii. This sign change may have occurred because the spacecraft crossed the heliospheric current sheet on long open magnetic field lines or it may have occurred because the spacecraft crossed from one side of the equator to the other on much shorter closed magnetic field lines. During this crossing, two distinct regions having different magnetic field geometries, strahl flows, plasma densities, and electric field spectra were observed and identified as regions with open and closed magnetic field lines, respectively. The two regions intermingled on time scales less than 100 milliseconds to create a complex magnetic field geometry. The waves observed in both regions were electrostatic and composed of wide band signatures (in the open field lines regions) and well-structured frequency harmonics (in both the open and closed field lines regions). These harmonic frequencies correlated with the proton plasma frequency, fpp, with the lowest frequency at ~0.1fpp. This result plus the field aligned electric field perturbations and plasma density fluctuations, require that the observed intense electrostatic mode and associated harmonics were ion acoustic waves. The absence of broadband electrostatic signals in closed field line regions is explained by the lower (than in open field line regions) hot and core electron density and higher ratio of the electron plasma frequency to the electron gyrofrequency, suppressing wave generation.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Parallel Electric Fields And Electron Heating Observed In The Young Solar Wind

The largest electric fields between 18 and 30 solar radii are in narrow band waves simultaneously observed at a few Hz (somewhat above the local proton gyrofrequency) and a few hundred Hz (far below the lower hybrid frequency), with the higher frequency wave triggered at specific phases of the lower frequency wave. This wave pair, called triggered ion acoustic waves (TIAW), has been shown to both be physical and to occur at times of electron heating. A theory of electron heating and acceleration by the low frequency wave has been presented. While this theory and the TIAW results strongly suggest the presence of low frequency electric fields that are parallel to the local magnetic field, such fields have not been directly observed. In this paper, such parallel electric field observations are reported and TIAW are further described to conclude that they occur during about 75 percent of the Parker Solar Probe passes through 18 to 30 solar radii and, when present, they are the dominant wave signal, lasting for hours. In the presence of these parallel electric fields, electrons are heated while, in their absence, there is no electron heating. That there is no heating between 18 and 30 solar radii in the absence of TIAW is a most significant result because it invalidates other proposed mechanisms that predict heating in this radial range all of the time.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

A New Type of Plasma Wakefield Accelerator Driven by Magnetowaves

We present a new concept for a plasma wakefield accelerator driven by magnetowaves (MPWA). This concept was originally proposed as a viable mechanism for the "cosmic accelerator" that would accelerate cosmic particles to ultra high energies in the astrophysical setting. Unlike the more familiar Plasma Wakefield Accelerator (PWFA) and the Laser Wakefield Accelerator (LWFA) where the drivers, the charged-particle beam and the laser, are independently existing entities, MPWA invokes the high-frequency and high-speed whistler mode as the driver, which is a medium wave that cannot exist outside of the plasma. Aside from the difference in drivers, the underlying mechanism that excites the plasma wakefield via the ponderomotive potential is common. Our computer simulations show that under appropriate conditions, the plasma wakefield maintains very high coherence and can sustain high-gradient acceleration over many plasma wavelengths. We suggest that in addition to its celestial application, the MPWA concept can also be of terrestrial utility. A proof-of-principle experiment on MPWA would benefit both terrestrial and celestial accelerator concepts.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2008

Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Puzzle and the Plasma Wakefield Acceleration

Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic particles to ultra high energies. Here we present simulation results that demonstrate the viability of this mechanism. We invoke the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The plasma wakefield so induced validates precisely the theoretical prediction. This mechanism is shown capable of accelerating charged particles to ZeV energies in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Magnetowave Induced Plasma Wakefield Acceleration for Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays

Magnetowave induced plasma wakefield acceleration (MPWA) in a relativistic astrophysical outflow has been proposed as a viable mechanism for the acceleration of cosmic particles to ultra high energies. Here we present simulation results that clearly demonstrate the viability of this mechanism for the first time. We invoke the high frequency and high speed whistler mode for the driving pulse. The plasma wakefield so induced validates precisely the theoretical prediction. We show that under appropriate conditions, the plasma wakefield maintains very high coherence and can sustain high-gradient acceleration over a macroscopic distance. Invoking gamma ray burst (GRB) as the source, we show that MPWA production of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) beyond ZeV 10^21 eV is possible.

astro-ph↗