Abstract
The solar wind plasma is permeated by all kinds of waves with a broad range of wavelengths and frequencies. Kinetic plasma waves in particular can resonantly interact with the ions, a process that is described within quasilinear theory as diffusion. The resulting effects on the proton velocity distribution function (VDF) are discussed. Theoretical predictions are compared with detailed measurements made in-situ by Helios, and found to comply favourably with resonant diffusion of the protons in the wave field. The shape of the proton VDF, showing an anisotropic core and a beam at positive velocities in the solar wind frame, can well be explained by scattering of the protons in weakly compressive and obliquely propagating Alfvén/ion-cyclotron and fast/slow-magnetoacoustic waves.
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