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The origin of the warped heliospheric current sheet. Scientific technical report

John M. Wilcox, P. H. Scherrer, J. T. Hoeksema

Abstract

The warped heliospheric current sheet in early 1976 is calculated from the observed photospheric magnetic field using a potential field method. Comparisons with measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field polarity in early 1976 obtained at several locations in the heliosphere at Helios I, Helios II, Pioneer XI and Earth show a rather detailed agreement between the computed current sheet and the observations. It appears that the large-scale structure of the warped heliospheric current sheet is determined by the structure of the photospheric magnetic field, and that 'ballerina skirt' effects may add small-scale ripples.

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Key concepts: Heliospheric current sheet, Current sheet, Heliosphere, Physics, Interplanetary magnetic field, Current (fluid), Interplanetary spaceflight, Polarity (international relations)