Energetic Ion Composition as a Means of Investigating the Physical Origins of Alpha Particle Heavy Magnetic Switchbacks

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2407.01858
• Publication Date: 2024-07-01
• Authors: E. I. McDougall; B. Poduval
• Keywords: Alpha particle; Alpha (finance); Particle (ecology)

Magnetic switchbacks are of continuing interest to the scientific community due fact that phenomenon has not been completely understood. Although most research into them in Parker Solar Probe era largely focused on creating a theoretical framework for causing field reversal through magnetic interchange reconnection, reconnecting streams plasma solar wind, or shear driven turbulence, it remains unclear what extent these models may represent underlying physical reality switchbacks. In this paper, we present results our study energetic ion composition switchback events using statistical methods with aim obtaining new insights physics. doing so, find consistent differences arrival times peak flux different species which indicative formed remotely corona and propagated outwards wind. We also while data does directly contradict linear reconnection model nor rope model, structure within themselves is reminiscent produced plasmoids.