Frequency Dispersed Ion Acoustic Waves in the Near Sun Solar Wind: Signatures of Impulsive Ion Beams

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of frequency-dispersed ion acoustic waves in the near-Sun solar wind, likely driven by impulsive proton beams, with implications for solar wind acceleration mechanisms.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of these waves far from shocks and links their properties to impulsive proton beam acceleration in the inner heliosphere.

Findings

Thousands of wave instances detected near the Sun.

Wave properties suggest resonance with proton beams.

Impulsive proton beams may be a widespread acceleration mechanism.

Abstract

This work reports a novel plasma wave observation in the near-Sun solar wind: frequency-dispersed ion acoustic waves. Similar waves were previously reported in association with interplanetary shocks or planetary bow shocks, but the waves reported here occur throughout the solar wind sunward of $\sim 60$ solar radii, far from any identified shocks. The waves reported here vary their central frequency by factors of 3 to 10 over tens of milliseconds, with frequencies that chirp up or down in time. Using a semi-automated identification algorithm, thousands of wave instances are recorded during each near-Sun orbit of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft. Wave statistical properties are determined and used to estimate their plasma frame frequency and the energies of protons most likely to be resonant with these waves. Proton velocity distribution functions are explored for one wave interval, and proton enhancements that may be consistent with proton beams are observed. A conclusion from this analysis is that properties of the observed frequency-dispersed ion acoustic waves are consistent with driving by cold, impulsively accelerated proton beams near the ambient proton thermal speed. Based on the large number of observed waves and their properties, it is likely that the impulsive proton beam acceleration mechanism generating these waves is active throughout the inner heliosphere. This may have implications for acceleration of the solar wind.