Recent research using data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe has provided the first direct evidence of the "helicity barrier" in the solar wind. This discovery helps scientists understand how the Sun's atmosphere is heated and how the supersonic solar wind is generated. The findings, published in *Physical Review X*, offer a significant step in unraveling these long-standing mysteries.
The solar corona's extreme heat and the acceleration of the solar wind have long puzzled scientists. Turbulent dissipation is believed to play a key role, but the exact mechanisms have been unclear. The Parker Solar Probe, which has flown closest to the Sun, provided unprecedented data to study this environment.
The study confirms the presence of the "helicity barrier," which alters turbulent dissipation. This barrier affects how energy fluctuations dissipate, impacting plasma heating. The research team identified the conditions under which this barrier is most active, particularly near the Sun.
This research helps explain properties of the solar wind, such as why its protons are hotter than its electrons. It also has implications for other astrophysical systems. Understanding energy dissipation in these environments has broad consequences for astrophysics.