OBSERVATION OF FLUX-TUBE CROSSINGS IN THE SOLAR WIND

Abstract

Current sheets are ubiquitous in the solar wind.They are a major source of the solar wind MHD turbulence intermittency. They may result from non-linear interactions of the solar wind MHD turbulence or are the boundaries of flux tubes that originate from the solar surface. Some current sheets appear in pairs and are the boundaries of transient structures such as magnetic holes and reconnection exhausts, or the edges of pulsed Alfv\'{e}n waves. For an individual current sheet, discerning whether it is a flux tube boundary or due to non-linear interactions, or the boundary of a transient structure is difficult. In this work, using data from the {\sl Wind} spacecraft, we identify two three-current-sheet events. Detailed examination of these two events suggest that they are best explained by the flux tube crossing scenario. Our study provides a convincing evidence supporting the scenario that the solar wind consists of flux tubes where distinct plasmas reside.