Show simple item record

A Review on Solar Wind Modeling: Kinetic and Fluid Aspects

dc.contributor.authorEchim, M.M.
dc.contributor.authorLemaire, J.
dc.contributor.authorLie-Svendsen, O.
dc.date2011
dc.date.accessioned2016-03-29T12:43:51Z
dc.date.available2016-03-29T12:43:51Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/3073
dc.descriptionThe paper reviews the main advantages and limitations of the kinetic exospheric and fluid models of the solar wind (SW). The general theoretical background is outlined: the Boltzmann and Fokker-Planck equations, the Liouville and Vlasov equations, the plasma transport equations derived from an "equation of change". The paper provides a brief history of the solar wind modeling. It discusses the hydrostatic model imagined by Chapman, the first supersonic hydrodynamic models published by Parker and the first generation subsonic kinetic model proposed by Chamberlain. It is shown that a correct estimation of the electric field, as in the second generation kinetic exospheric models developed by Lemaire and Scherer, provides a supersonic expansion of the corona, reconciling the hydrodynamic and the kinetic approach. The modern developments are also reviewed emphasizing the characteristics of several generations of kinetic exospheric and multi-fluid models. The third generation kinetic exospheric models consider kappa velocity distribution function (VDF) instead of a Maxwellian at the exobase and in addition they treat a non-monotonic variation of the electric potential with the radial distance; the fourth generation exospheric models include Coulomb collisions based on the Fokker-Planck collision term. Multi-fluid models of the solar wind provide a coarse grained description of the system and reproduce with success the spatio-temporal variation of SW macroscopic properties (density, bulk velocity). The main categories of multi-fluid SW models are reviewed: the 5-moment, or Euler, models, originally proposed by Parker to describe the supersonic SW expansion; the 8-moment and 16-moment fluid models, the gyrotropic approach with improved collision terms as well as the gyrotropic models based on observed VDFs. The outstanding problem of collisions, including the long range Coulomb encounters, is also discussed, both in the kinetic and multi-fluid context. Although for decades the two approaches have been seen as opposed, in this paper we emphasize their complementarity. The review of the kinetic and fluid models of the solar wind contributes also to a better evaluation of the open questions still existent in SW modeling and suggests possible future developments.
dc.languageeng
dc.titleA Review on Solar Wind Modeling: Kinetic and Fluid Aspects
dc.typeArticle
dc.subject.frascatiPhysical sciences
dc.audienceScientific
dc.subject.freeBoltzmann
dc.subject.freeBulk velocity
dc.subject.freeChapman-Enskog expansion
dc.subject.freeClosure relationship
dc.subject.freeCoarse-grained description
dc.subject.freeCollision term
dc.subject.freeCoulomb collision
dc.subject.freeExobase
dc.subject.freeFluid models
dc.subject.freeFokker Planck
dc.subject.freeFourth generation
dc.subject.freeGrad expansion
dc.subject.freeHydrodynamic model
dc.subject.freeHydrostatic model
dc.subject.freeKinetic approach
dc.subject.freeKinetic models
dc.subject.freeLong range
dc.subject.freeMacroscopic properties
dc.subject.freeModern development
dc.subject.freeMulti-fluids
dc.subject.freeNon-monotonic variation
dc.subject.freePlasma transport
dc.subject.freePossible futures
dc.subject.freeRadial distance
dc.subject.freeSecond generation
dc.subject.freeSpatio-temporal variation
dc.subject.freeSupersonic expansions
dc.subject.freeThird generation
dc.subject.freeWind modeling
dc.subject.freeBoltzmann equation
dc.subject.freeDistribution functions
dc.subject.freeElectric corona
dc.subject.freeElectric fields
dc.subject.freeElectric generators
dc.subject.freeElectric potential
dc.subject.freeExpansion
dc.subject.freeFluid dynamics
dc.subject.freeFluids
dc.subject.freeFokker Planck equation
dc.subject.freeHydrodynamics
dc.subject.freeMobile telecommunication systems
dc.subject.freePlasma flow
dc.subject.freeSolar wind
dc.subject.freeTiming jitter
dc.subject.freeVlasov equation
dc.subject.freeelectric field
dc.subject.freehydrodynamics
dc.subject.freehydrostatics
dc.subject.freekinetics
dc.subject.freenumerical model
dc.subject.freesolar wind
dc.subject.freetheoretical study
dc.source.titleSurveys in Geophysics
dc.source.volume32
dc.source.issue1
dc.source.pageJan-70
Orfeo.peerreviewedYes
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10712-010-9106-y
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-78650034769


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
Echim(2011b).pdf
Size:
784.9Kb
Format:
PDF
View/Open

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record