Observation of a Magnetic Switchback in the Solar Corona

0561335 - ASÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Telloni, D. - Zank, G.P. - Stangalini, M. - Heinzel, Petr … Total 61 authors
Observation of a Magnetic Switchback in the Solar Corona.
Astrophysical Journal Letters. Roč. 936, č. 2 (2022), č. článku L25. ISSN 2041-8205. E-ISSN 2041-8213
Institutional support: RVO:67985815
Keywords : solar corona * solar magnetic reconnection * solar magnetic fields
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 7.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

Switchbacks are sudden, large radial deflections of the solar wind magnetic field, widely revealed in interplanetary space by the Parker Solar Probe. The switchbacks' formation mechanism and sources are still unresolved, although candidate mechanisms include Alfvenic turbulence, shear-driven Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, interchange reconnection, and geometrical effects related to the Parker spiral. This Letter presents observations from the Metis coronagraph on board a Solar Orbiter of a single large propagating S-shaped vortex, interpreted as the first evidence of a switchback in the solar corona. It originated above an active region with the related loop system bounded by open-field regions to the east and west. Observations, modeling, and theory provide strong arguments in favor of the interchange reconnection origin of switchbacks. Metis measurements suggest that the initiation of the switchback may also be an indicator of the origin of slow solar wind.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334230