A Search for Magnetic Switchbacks in Parker Solar Probe Data and a Statistical Analysis of Associated Solar Wind Tangential Velocity

Since its launch in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has granted a new understanding of the solar wind structures known as magnetic switchbacks. In these regions, the radial component of the solar magnetic field is seen to swap polarity or to be suppressed near zero for periods of ten to tens of minutes. In conjunction with these fluctuations in the magnetic field, the tangential velocity of the solar wind is seen to increase sharply. Switchbacks may be contrasted with rarefaction regions, where radial magnetic fluctuations are of lower magnitude and briefer, and where jumps in tangential velocity are of order <50 km/s. We seek to replicate the results from Schwadron/McComas (2021) in a bid to train ourselves on the data and understand how to extract the relevant quantities. Having parsed through the relevant PSP readings, we look to automate the selection of these switchback regions, again, with a goal of matching the Schwadron/McComas(2021) results. An algorithm is developed in accordance with the methodology described in Pecora (2022), Bandyopadhyay (2021), and Dudok de Wit (2020). This selection algorithm requires refinement before application to the entire PSP dataset. A statistical analysis is undertaken for the tangential velocities lying in switchback periods identified in Shwadron/McComas (2021). Early results indicate higher mean tangential velocities in switchback regions than in rarefaction regions.