We investigated variations on scales of 104–105 km and local spatial inhomogeneities in the density of protons Np, doubly ionized helium ions (α-particles) Nα, and the relative abundance of helium Nα/Np in the solar wind. Measurements taken by two spacecraft, SPEKTR-R and WIND, separated in space by a distance of more than 1 million km, are analyzed, and the correlation coefficient between measurements of the corresponding parameters at different time intervals is determined. For intervals with a generally high level of correlation of plasma parameters, variations in the level of local (over shorter subintervals) correlation were analyzed. We showed that a low level of local correlation of all studied parameters is relatively common. The level of local correlation depends on the type of large-scale solar wind stream, as well as on the bulk velocity of the flow and the degree of flux variability. In addition, a low level of local correlation is often characterized by a negative component Bx of the interplanetary magnetic field. The regions of local spatial inhomogeneities in the densities of protons and helium and the relative abundance of helium are identified and their size is estimated.
Variations of Protons and Doubly Ionized Helium Ions in the Solar Wind
Cosmic Res
Cosmic Research ; 59 , 6 ; 415-426
2021-11-01
12 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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