The electric field in the solar coronal exosphere and the solar wind

Hari K. Sen

The solar coronal exosphere (fixed at a level where the mean free path is comparable with the scale height) is shown to act like the sheath in a laboratory discharge, that builds up an excess positive charge and electric field. Equality of flux for the charged particles (protons and electrons) at the exosphere is assumed. The value of exospheric electric potential makes the protons virtually weightless. The exospheric sheath potential accelerates the thermal protons to a velocity of 258 km/sec, with which they coast to the earth. The proton density in transit varies approximately as the inverse square law. Higher velocities and densities are obtained for higher coronal temperatures. An estimate of the exospheric transition region is obtained by applying the hydrodynamic theory of ambipolar diffusion in a gravitational field to the observed coronal density distribution. (Author).