Beam-Generated Waves and Fluctuations in the Heliosphere

Waves and fluctuations in heliospheric plasmas are primarily generated by the coherent outward-flowing photon and particle beams, which are poorly described by MHD equations with "frozen-in" magnetic fields. In the solar chromosphere and corona, low inter-particle collision rates preclude hydro models. Rather, plasma sheath kinetics is required to describe the development of the (60.W/m²⁾ solar wind beams by the (60.MW/m²) outward photon flow[1], with resultant coronal "heating". In contrast, the many contradictions of the "frozen-in" moving magnetic spiral model are readily apparent [2], and the model provides no valid equilibrium basis for waves and fluctuations. Within planetary magnetospheres, modern models properly describe magnetic distortions and waves driven by the solar wind. Elsewhere, the rapidly fluctuating magnetic fields observed by spacecraft are apparently caused by local fluctuating currents from statistical charge fluctuations, current filamentation, and neutral gas interactions with the solar wind. Here, the images of a spiral IMF "rooted" in the solar surface are less than helplful.
[1] C.F. Driscoll, "The Electric Field of the Sun and Solar Wind", this conference.
[2] O.V. Khabarova, Astronomy Reports, 57, 844 (2013)