Magnetic Topology of Actively Evolving and Passively Convecting Structures in the Turbulent Solar Wind

Hnat, B.; Chapman, S. C. and Watkins, N. W. (2021). Magnetic Topology of Actively Evolving and Passively Convecting Structures in the Turbulent Solar Wind. Physical Review Letters, 126(12), article no. 125101.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.125101

Abstract

Multipoint in situ observations of the solar wind are used to identify the magnetic topology and current density of turbulent structures. We find that at least 35% of all structures are both actively evolving and carrying the strongest currents, actively dissipating, and heating the plasma. These structures are comprised of ~1/5 3D plasmoids, ~3/5 flux ropes, and ~1/5 3D X points consistent with magnetic reconnection. Actively evolving and passively advecting structures are both close to log-normally distributed. This provides direct evidence for the significant role of strong turbulence, evolving via magnetic shearing and reconnection, in mediating dissipation and solar wind heating.

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