Plasma Sheath Electric Fields and Jets of the Sun and Solar Wind

A model of electric energization of the Solar Wind and Corona is developed, outside the MHD perspective. The model gives quantitative agreement with the 4.keV maximum proton Wind energies measured by Ulysses, and with the recent PSP eVDF signatures of static electric potential from 15 to 80*R_sun. Moreover, there are no adjustable parameters in the model. This provides a tractable answer to the NASA/ESA big mission question of “What heats the solar Corona and energizes the Solar Wind ?”, namely “Electric fields from the net charge within the Sun”

These DC electric fields arise from two effects: (1) collisional plasma equilibrium in a gravitational field requires an E-field balancing 1/2 of gravity on each proton; and (2) the outward solar energy flux drags electrons out of the plasma sheath at R_sun. The global stable charge state is then set by a "virial limit", limiting the total electrostatic energy at r=0 to the (negative) gravitational energy at r=0.

Energetically, the resulting surface potential of 6.keV can then accelerate protons out of the 2.keV gravity well and up to the 4. keV energies observed in the Fast Solar Wind. This electric energy drives electro- magnetic plasma dynamics, from the surface flares and electrical storms imaged by Solar Orbiter, to proton jets in the Wind, to surface prominences, perhaps to CME events.