Proton Beams

Proton beams in the solar wind are a second population of protons that move faster than the main group. These beams are easier to detect when the solar wind is fast and collisions between particles are rare. Studies show that their speed relative to the rest of the solar wind is often close to or slightly above the Alfvén speed (a natural speed limit set by magnetic forces). Unlike helium ions, proton beams maintain their speed more consistently even as the number of collisions increases, suggesting different acceleration or limiting mechanisms at play.

Summary generated with ChatGPT based on my first-author publications for clarity and accessibility.