Radial Spectral Evolution of the Elsässer Variable z − in the Slow Solar Wind

Abstract

The nature of the Elsässer variable z − plays a significant role in the understanding of solar wind turbulence. The radial spectral evolution of z − observed by the Helios spacecraft suggests that z − has a persistent background spectrum in the low-frequency range from 0.3 to 1 au. However, the radial evolution in the near-Sun solar wind remains unknown. Here we use Parker Solar Probe measurements to analyze the averaged spectra of z − in the slow solar wind from 0.1 to 0.5 au and compare the results with the WIND observations at 1 au. We find that the averaged spectra of z − do not show the low-frequency break at the low-frequency breakpoint on the power spectra of z +, magnetic field, and velocity. The energy in the frequency range of 10−4–10−2 Hz demonstrates a radial decay from 0.1 to 0.5 au and keeps nearly constant to 1 au. The spectral index of z − gradually decreases from −1.27 at 0.1–0.2 au to −1.59 at 0.4–0.5 au and then slowly declines to −1.70 at 1 au. The radial behaviors of the ∥, ⊥1, and ⊥2 components of z − in the field-aligned coordinates are similar to that of the trace of z −. Our findings suggest a faster radial spectral evolution of z − in the near-Sun solar wind and provide strong observational constraints for the solar wind turbulence model.