The trans-heliospheric survey
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Published version
Date
2023-07
Authors
Maruca, Bennett A.
Qudsi, Ramiz A.
Alterman, B.L.
Walsh, Brian M.
Korreck, Kelly E.
Verscharen, Daniel
Bandyopadhyay, Riddhi
Chhiber, Rohit
Chasapis, Alexandros
Parashar, Tulasi N.
Version
Published version
OA Version
Published version
Citation
B.A. Maruca, R.A. Qudsi, B.L. Alterman, B.M. Walsh, K.E. Korreck, D. Verscharen, R. Bandyopadhyay, R. Chhiber, A. Chasapis, T.N. Parashar, W.H. Matthaeus, M.L. Goldstein. 2023. "The Trans-Heliospheric Survey" Astronomy and Astrophysics: a European journal, Volume 675, pp.A196-A196. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202345951
Abstract
Context.Though the solar wind is characterized by spatial and temporal variability across a wide range of scales, long-term averages of in situ measurements have revealed clear radial trends: changes in average values of basic plasma parameters (e.g., density, temperature, and speed) and a magnetic field with a distance from the Sun.
Aims.To establish our current understanding of the solar wind's average expansion through the heliosphere, data from multiple spacecraft needed to be combined and standardized into a single dataset.
Methods.In this study, data from twelve heliospheric and planetary spacecraft - Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Helios 1 and 2, Mariner 2 and 10, Ulysses, Cassini, Pioneer 10 and 11, New Horizons, and Voyager 1 and 2 - were compiled into a dataset spanning over three orders of magnitude in heliocentric distance. To avoid introducing artifacts into this composite dataset, special attention was given to the solar cycle, spacecraft heliocentric elevation, and instrument calibration.
Results.The radial trend in each parameter was found to be generally well described by a power-law fit, though up to two break points were identified in each fit.
Conclusions.These radial trends are publicly released here to benefit research groups in the validation of global heliospheric simulations and in the development of new deep-space missions such as Interstellar Probe.
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License
© The Authors 2023. Open Access article, published by EDP Sciences, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This article is published in open access under the Subscribe to Open model. Subscribe to A&A to support open access publication.