Ulysses electron distributions fitted with Kappa functions

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Authors
Maksimovic, M.
Pierrard, V.
Riley, P.
Discipline
Physical sciences
Subject
Cosmic rays
Curve fitting
Data reduction
Electrons
Kinetic theory
Mathematical models
Plasma devices
Spacecraft observatories
Solar wind
Kappa functions
Solar wind
Ulysses electron distributions
Space research
Distribution functions
Electron distributions
Electron plasmas
Fast solar winds
High velocity
Kinetic modeling
Ulysses
Audience
Scientific
Date
1997Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
We fit Kappa functions to 16,000 velocity distribution functions measured in the solar wind by the electron plasma instrument on board Ulysses. Statistically, the electron distributions are observed to have important high velocity tails in the fast solar wind but are closer to a Maxwellian in the slow wind. We also discuss how this result could support a recent kinetic model of the solar wind proposed by Maksimovic, Pierrard and Lemaire [1997].
Citation
Maksimovic, M.; Pierrard, V.; Riley, P. (1997). Ulysses electron distributions fitted with Kappa functions. , Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 24, Issue 9, 1151-1154, DOI: 10.1029/97GL00992.Identifiers
scopus: 2-s2.0-0031141271
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
eng