Predicting the Solar Wind at Parker Solar Probe Using an Empirically Driven MHD Model

Abstract

Since the launch on 2018/08/12, Parker Solar Probe (PSP) has completed its first and second orbits around the Sun, having reached down to 35.7 solar radii at each perihelion. In anticipation of the exciting new data at such unprecedented distances, we have simulated the global 3D heliosphere using an MHD model coupled with a semi-empirical coronal model using the best available photospheric magnetograms as input. We compare our heliospheric MHD simulation results with in situ measurements along the PSP trajectory from its launch to the completion of the second orbit, with particular emphasis on the solar wind structure around the first two solar encounters. Furthermore, we show our model prediction for the third perihelion, which occurred on 2019/09/01. Comparison of the MHD results with PSP observations provides a new insight on the solar wind acceleration. Moreover, PSP observations reveal how accurately the ADAPT-WSA predictions work throughout the inner heliosphere.

References in corpus (8)

• The Open Flux Problem
• Advancements in the ADAPT Photospheric Flux Transport Model
• Magnetic connectivity of the ecliptic plane within 0.5 AU : PFSS modeling of the first PSP encounter
• Estimating Total Open Heliospheric Magnetic Flux
• Predicting the Structure of the Solar Corona and Inner Heliosphere during Parker Solar Probe's First Perihelion Pass
• Predictions for the First Parker Solar Probe Encounter
• Data-constrained Model for Coronal Mass Ejections Using Graduated Cylindrical Shell Method
• Simulating Solar Coronal Mass Ejections constrained by Observations of their Speed and Poloidal flux

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Magnetic connectivity of the ecliptic plane within 0.5 AU : PFSS modeling of the first PSP encounter
• Parker Solar Probe: Four Years of Discoveries at Solar Cycle Minimum
• Prediction and Verification of Parker Solar Probe Solar Wind Sources at 13.3 R${}_{\odot }$
• Direct evidence for magnetic reconnection at the boundaries of magnetic switchbacks with Parker Solar Probe
• Using Parker Solar Probe observations during the first four perihelia to constrain global magnetohydrodynamic models
• One Year in the Life of Young Suns: Data Constrained Corona-Wind Model of kappa1 Ceti
• Application of a Modified Spheromak Model to Simulations of Coronal Mass Ejection in the Inner Heliosphere
• Ensemble simulations of the 12 July 2012 Coronal Mass Ejection with the Constant Turn Flux Rope Model
• Improving the Arrival Time Estimates of Coronal Mass Ejections by Using Magnetohydrodynamic Ensemble Modeling, Heliospheric Imager data, and Machine Learning
• Ensemble Modeling of the Solar Wind Flow with Boundary Conditions Governed by Synchronic Photospheric Magnetograms. I. Multi-point Validation in the Inner Heliosphere