Origin of the warped heliospheric current sheet

Wilcox, J. M., J. T. Hoeksema, and P. H. Scherrer, Origin of the warped heliospheric current sheet, Science, 209, 603-605 (1980) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

This iconic cartoon, due originally to Werner Heil [1] illustrates the warped nature of the solar-wind flow as induced by solar rotation and the lack of axisymmetry in the solar magnetic field. A close look shows the planets intersecting the surface, which represents the current sheet necessary to reverse the radial field polarity.


[1] W. Heil

Date: 2019 December 10