Parker’s solar wind model for a polytropic gas

Abstract

Parker’s hydrodynamic isothermal solar wind model is extended to apply for a more realistic polytropic gas flow that can be caused by a variable extended heating of the corona. A compatible theoretical formulation is given and detailed numerical and systematic asymptotic theoretical considerations are presented. The polytropic conditions favor an enhanced conversion of thermal energy in the solar wind into kinetic energy of the outward flow and are hence shown to enhance the acceleration of the solar wind, thus indicating a quicker loss of the solar angular momentum.