Analysis of the distribution, rotation and scale characteristics of solar wind switchbacks: comparison between the first and second encounters of Parker Solar Probe

TL;DR

This study analyzes the distribution, rotation, and scale of solar wind switchbacks observed by Parker Solar Probe during its first two encounters, revealing differences in rotation angles, velocity components, and sizes between the encounters.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of switchback characteristics between two PSP encounters, including their rotation angles, velocities, and sizes, using statistical and minimum variance analysis methods.

Findings

Switchbacks have larger rotation angles in the first encounter.

Tangential velocity inside switchbacks tends to be more positive.

Switchbacks are more likely to rotate clockwise than anticlockwise.

Abstract

The S-shaped magnetic structure in the solar wind formed by the twisting of magnetic field lines is called a switchback, whose main characteristics are the reversal of the magnetic field and the significant increase in the solar wind radial velocity. We identify 242 switchbacks during the first two encounters of Parker Solar Probe (PSP). Statistics methods are applied to analyze the distribution and the rotation angle and direction of the magnetic field rotation of the switchbacks. The diameter of switchbacks is estimated with a minimum variance analysis (MVA) method based on the assumption of a cylindrical magnetic tube. We also make a comparison between switchbacks from inside and the boundary of coronal holes. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the rotation angles of switchbacks observed during the first encounter seem larger than those of the switchbacks observed during the second encounter in general; (2) the tangential component of the velocity inside the switchbacks tends to be more positive (westward) than in the ambient solar wind; (3) switchbacks are more likely to rotate clockwise than anticlockwise, and the number of switchbacks with clockwise rotation is 1.48 and 2.65 times of those with anticlockwise rotation during the first and second encounters, respectively; (4) the diameter of switchbacks is about 10^5 km on average and across five orders of magnitude (10^3 -- 10^7 km).