Corotating Interaction Regions: Proceedings of an ISSI Workshop 6–13 June 1998, Bern, Switzerland(7 Space Sciences Series of ISSI)

This volume gives a comprehensive and integrated overview of current knowledge and understanding of corotating interaction regions (CIRs) in the solar wind at the beginning of the 21st century. It is the result of a workshop at ISSI, where space scientists involved in the Ulysses, Pioneer, Voyager, IMP-8, Wind, and SOHO missions exchanged their data and interpretations with theorists in the fields of solar and heliospheric physics. The book provides a broad synthesis of current understanding of CIRs, which form at the interface between the fast solar wind originating in the northern and southern coronal holes and the slow solar wind that originates near and within coronal streamers surrounding the heliomagnetic equator. CIRs are the dominant structure in the heliosphere near and beyond Earth on the declining phase and near the minimum of the 11-year solar activity cycle. Particles energized at the shocks that bound CIRs at heliospheric distances beyond the orbit of Earth are the dominant energetic particle population observed in the outer heliosphere at these times. Papers included in this volume cover the subject of CIRs from their dissipation in the outer hemisphere, and include discussions of complexities associated with their evolution with distance from the Sun, their three-dimensional structure, and the myriad effects that CIRs have on energetic particles throughout the heliosphere. The book is intended to provide scientists active in space physics research with an up-to-date status report on current understanding of CIRs and their effects in the heliosphere, and also to serve the advanced graduate student with introductory material on this active field of research.

Table of Contents:
Solar Origin and Interplanetary Evolution of Stream Interfaces.- Formation and Evolution of Corotating Interaction Regions and Their Three-Dimensional Structure.- Voyager 2 Observations of Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs) in the Outer Heliosphere.- Development and Effects of Turbulence in Connection with C1Rs.- CIR Associated Energetic Particles in the Inner and Middle Heliosphere.- Observation of Injection and Pre-Acceleration Processes in the Slow Solar Wind.- Injection and Accleration Processes in Corotating Interaction Regions: Theoretical Concepts.- Mechanisms for Latitudinal Transport of Energetic Particles in the Heliosphere.- Modulation of Galactic Cosmic Rays at Solar Minimum.- The Solar Origin of Corotating Interaction Regions and Their Formation in the Inner Heliosphere — Report of Working Group 1.- CIR Morphology, Turbulence, Discontinuities, and Energetic Particles — Report of Working Group 2.- Corotating Interaction Regions at High Latitudes — Report of Working Group 3.- Corotating Interaction Regions in the Outer Heliosphere — Report of Working Group 4.- Modulation of Cosmic Rays and Anomalous Components by CIRs — Report of Working Group 5.- Origin, Injection, and Acceleration of CIR Particles: Observations — Report of Working Group 6.- Origin, Injection, and Acceleration of CIR Particles: Theory — Report of Working Group 7.- Epilogue.- List of Acronyms.- Author Index.- List of Participants.