Intermittency in the Expanding Solar Wind: Observations from Parker Solar Probe (0.16 au), Helios 1 (0.3-1 au), and Voyager 1 (1-10 au)

We examine statistics of magnetic-field vector components to explore how intermittency evolves from near-Sun plasma to radial distances as large as 10 au. Statistics entering the analysis include autocorrelation, magnetic structure functions of the order of n (SF n ), and scale-dependent kurtosis (SDK), each grouped in ranges of heliocentric distance. The Goddard Space Flight Center Space Physics Data Facility provides magnetic-field measurements for resolutions of 6.8 ms for Parker Solar Probe, 6 s for Helios, and 1.92 s for Voyager 1. We compute SF2 to determine the scales encompassing the inertial range and examine SDK to investigate the degree of non-Gaussianity. Autocorrelations are used to resolve correlation scales. Correlation lengths and ion inertial lengths provide an estimate of effective Reynolds number (R-e). Variation in R-e allows us to examine for the first time the relationship between SDK and R-e in an interplanetary plasma. A conclusion from this observed relationship is that regions with lower R-e at a fixed physical scale have on average lower kurtosis, implying less intermittent behavior. Kolmogorov refined similarity hypothesis is applied to magnetic SF n and kurtosis to calculate intermittency parameters and fractal scaling in the inertial range. A refined Voyager 1 magnetic-field data set is generated.

Automated summary

This article examines the evolution of intermittency from near-Sun plasma to radial distances as large as 10 au. Statistical analysis of magnetic-field vector components reveals that regions with lower Reynolds numbers have lower kurtosis, indicating less intermittent behavior. Additionally, the refined similarity hypothesis is applied to calculate intermittency parameters and fractal scaling in the inertial range.