Transport of cross helicity and radial evolution of Alfvénicity in the solar wind

Abstract

A transport theory including cross helicity, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence, and driving by shear and pickup ions, is applied to the radial evolution of the solar wind. The radial decrease of cross helicity observed in the solar wind can be accounted for when sufficient driving is included to overcome the inherent tendency for MHD turbulence to produce Alfvénic states. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.