Snapping the Sun's Grand Magnetic Border at 0.3 AU

A new study using the Solar Orbiter mission captured the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS) at a distance of 0.3 AU, which is about a third of Earth's distance. The study revealed that the HCS is a complex, multi-layered structure filled with magnetic anomalies and changing plasma pressures. The Heavy Ion Sensor (SWA-HIS) collected data showing that electrons in the HCS abruptly stopped, suggesting a region of magnetic reconnection. Protons in the solar wind were also observed to move faster than usual, indicating a possible focus of magnetic reconnection. The researchers found that despite the magnetic chaos in the HCS, the ionic ratios of elements like iron and oxygen remained stable, allowing them to trace the elements' origins. The Fe/O ratio sharply dropped near the middle of the HCS, suggesting a force like gravity affects the movement of heavy ions. The study also noted that oxygen experienced temperature spikes above the super-mass-proportional limit, correlated with changes in charge ratios. These findings help understand how the Sun's magnetic field influences the solar wind and the behavior of elements in space. The study highlights the complexity of the Sun's magnetic field and its impact on the solar wind. The Solar Orbiter mission continues to explore the Sun's magnetic structure and its effects on the solar wind.

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