Surface Waves at Switchback Boundaries in the Young Solar Wind from Parker Solar Probe Observations

TL;DR

This study investigates the role of shear flow instabilities, particularly Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, at switchback boundaries in the young solar wind, revealing conditions under which these boundaries become unstable and evolve.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the conditions for shear flow instability at solar wind switchback boundaries and links KHI development to boundary erosion and structural evolution.

Findings

KHI-driven surface waves can form at SB boundaries.

Boundary erosion may result from ongoing KHI development.

Alignment of ΔB and ΔV stabilizes the boundary unless shear exceeds magnetic shear.

Abstract

Switchbacks (SBs) are localized magnetic field deflections in the solar wind, marked by abrupt changes in the magnetic field direction relative to the ambient solar wind. Observations onboard Parker Solar Probe (PSP) at heliocentric distances below 50 Solar Radii (Rs) showed that within SBs, perturbations in the magnetic field ({\Delta}B) and the bulk solar wind velocity ({\Delta}V) align, i.e., {\Delta}B~{\Delta}V, producing enhanced radial velocity spikes. In this study, we examine the characteristics of SB boundaries, with particular attention to the role of boundary shear flow instabilities (Kelvin-Helmholtz instability - KHI) for surface wave phenomena based on the in situ magnetic field, plasma speed, and plasma density measurements from PSP. The results indicate that SB boundaries can be unstable for generating KHI-driven surface waves, suggesting that the wave activity observed at SB boundaries is caused by shear flow instabilities. In addition, the continued development of KHI may lead to boundary erosion, contributing to the radial evolution of SBs via structural weakening or broadening. However, when {\Delta}B and {\Delta}V are closely aligned, the boundary remains stable unless the velocity shear significantly exceeds the magnetic shear. Since the observed velocity shear typically ranges from 40% to 90% of magnetic shear, the instability condition is generally not satisfied. Thus, the configuration leading to the instability arises from deviations from precise alignment of {\Delta}B and {\Delta}V in the young solar wind, and the release of the KHI presumably leads to the formation of the {\Delta}B and {\Delta}V alignment observed at SB boundaries located at 35-55 Rs.