Parker Solar Probe Evidence for Scattering of Electrons in the Young Solar Wind by Narrowband Whistler-mode Waves

Observations of plasma waves by the Fields Suite and of electrons by the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons Investigation on the Parker Solar Probe provide strong evidence for pitch angle scattering of strahl-energy electrons by narrowband whistler-mode waves at radial distances less than similar to 0.3 au. We present two example intervals of a few hours each that include eight waveform captures with whistler-mode waves and 26 representative electron distributions that are examined in detail. Two were narrow, seventeen were clearly broadened, and eight were very broad. The two with narrow strahl occurred when there were either no whistlers or very intermittent low amplitude waves. Six of the eight broadest distributions were associated with intense, long duration waves. Approximately half of the observed electron distributions have features consistent with an energy-dependent scattering mechanism, as would be expected from interactions with narrowband waves. A comparison of the wave power in the whistler-mode frequency band to pitch angle width and a measure of anisotropy provides additional evidence for electron scattering by whistler-mode waves. We estimate the range of resonances based on the wave properties and energies over which broadening is observed. These observations provide strong evidence that the narrowband whistler-mode waves scatter strahl-energy electrons to produce the halo and to reduce the electron heat flux.

Automated summary

Observations from the Parker Solar Probe show that narrowband whistler-mode waves can scatter strahl-energy electrons, resulting in characteristic electron distribution patterns with energy-dependent scattering mechanisms. This provides strong evidence for the interaction between electrons and whistler-mode waves, influencing the electron heat flux and producing halo distributions.