Abstract The electron VDF in the solar wind consists of a Maxwellian core, a suprathermal halo, a field-aligned component strahl, and an energetic superhalo that deviates from the equilibrium. Whistler wave turbulence is thought to resonantly scatter the observed electron velocity distribution. Wave–particle interactions that contribute to Whistler wave turbulence are introduced into a Fokker–Planck kinetic transport equation that describes the interaction between the suprathermal electrons and the Whistler waves. A recent numerical approach for solving the Fokker–Planck kinetic transport equation has been extended to include a full diffusion tensor. Application of the extended numerical approach to the transport of solar wind suprathermal electrons influenced by Whistler wave turbulence is presented. Comparison and analysis of the numerical results with observations and diagonal-only model results are made. The off-diagonal terms in the diffusion tensor act to depress effects caused by the diagonal terms. The role of the diffusion coefficient on the electron heat flux is discussed.
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Suprathermal Electron Transport in the Solar Wind: Effects of Coulomb Collisions and Whistler Turbulence
The nature and radial evolution of solar wind electrons in the suprathermal energy range are studied. A wave–particle interaction tensor and a Fokker–Planck Coulomb collision operator are introduced into the kinetic transport equation describing electron collisions and resonant interactions with whistler waves. The diffusion tensor includes diagonal and off-diagonal terms, and the Coulomb collision operator applies to arbitrary electron velocities describing collisions with both background protons and electrons. The background proton and electron densities and temperatures are based on previous turbulence models that mediate the supersonic solar wind. The electron velocity distribution functions and electron heat flux are calculated. Comparison and analysis of the numerical results with analytical solutions and observations in the near-Sun region are made. The numerical results reproduce well the creation of the sunward electron deficit observed in the near-Sun region. The deficit of the electron velocity distribution function below the core Maxwellian fit at low velocities results from Coulomb collisions, and the excess part above the core Maxwellian fit at high velocities is determined by strong wave–particle interactions.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10497713
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 964
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: Article No. 180
- Size(s):
- Article No. 180
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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