Magnetic Topology of Actively Evolving and Passively Convecting Structures in the Turbulent Solar Wind

Phys Rev Lett. 2021 Mar 26;126(12):125101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.125101.

Abstract

Multipoint in situ observations of the solar wind are used to identify the magnetic topology and current density of turbulent structures. We find that at least 35% of all structures are both actively evolving and carrying the strongest currents, actively dissipating, and heating the plasma. These structures are comprised of ∼1/5 3D plasmoids, ∼3/5 flux ropes, and ∼1/5 3D X points consistent with magnetic reconnection. Actively evolving and passively advecting structures are both close to log-normally distributed. This provides direct evidence for the significant role of strong turbulence, evolving via magnetic shearing and reconnection, in mediating dissipation and solar wind heating.