Hydromagnetic heating in the solar wind

Abstract

Hydromagnetic heating in the solar wind was investigated using the heating model in which fast-mode hydromagnetic waves propagate outward from below the base and deposit energy by collisionless damping. Ray paths were found by solving Hamilton's equations. As the ray propagates along its path, it will damp, supplying thermal energy to the solar wind gas. The strong agreement of these results with observations is clear indication that the primary nonthermal heat source in the solar wind is the collisionless damping of hydromagnetic waves.