Solar Orbiter reveals magnetic waves power solar wind acceleration

ESA's Solar Orbiter and NASA's Parker Solar Probe have identified that large fluctuations in the sun's magnetic field, known as Alfvén waves, provide the energy needed to heat and accelerate the solar wind. The solar wind, which travels at speeds over 500 km/s, is influenced by these magnetic waves, with 10% of energy near the sun attributed to magnetic fields, decreasing to 1% farther out.