SWICS/Ulysses observations: The three‐dimensional structure of the heliosphere in the declining/minimum phase of the solar cycle

Abstract

The ESA/NASA spacecraft Ulysses provides the first in‐situ observation of the solar wind at high solar latitudes. Data obtained with the S olar W ind I on C omposition S pectrometer (SWICS) during the first orbit of Ulysses around the Sun can be used to obtain a global view of the solar wind pattern within the heliosphere during the declining/minimum phase of the solar activity cycle. This provides information on the solar corona, specifically on any latitudinal variation of coronal parameters as far as they play a role in the solar wind acceleration process. The measurements show: The 3‐dim. distribution of the solar wind appears as a pattern of basically two states. The fast solar wind with speeds of about 750 km/s emanating from the polar coronal holes dominates the heliosphere. The slow solar wind from the streamer belts is restricted to a region of about +/−20° around the heliographic equator. The boundary between the two states of the solar wind is sharply defined. The coronal hole streams are remarkably stable and homogeneous on a larger scale. The two independent coronal holes are similar in terms of average speed and spatial extent. In both coronal holes a gradual increase (≤10%) of speed with solar latitude is observed.