Evidence of 5 minute Oscillations from Parker Solar Probe

The Astrophysical Journal Letters 2026 Open access

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Authors: Zesen Huang, Marco Velli, Olga Panasenco, R. J. Morton, Chen 辰 Shi 时, Yeimy J. Rivera, Benjamin Chandran, Samuel T. Badman, Yuliang 宇量 Ding 丁, Nour Raouafi, Stuart D. Bale, Michael Stevens
+10 more Tamar Ervin, C. Hou, Kristopher G. Klein, Orlando Romeo, Jia 佳 Huang 黄, Mingzhe Liu, Davin E. Larson, Marc Pulupa, Roberto Livi, Federico Fraschetti
DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae43ec
Cited by: 1
References: 58

Abstract

Abstract The Sun’s surface vibrates in characteristic 5 minute oscillations, known as p -modes, generated by sound waves trapped within the convection zone. Although these oscillations have long been hypothesized to reach into the solar wind, direct in situ evidence has remained elusive, even during previous close encounters by Parker Solar Probe (PSP). Here, we present strong in situ evidence of 5 minute oscillations in the upper solar corona, based on observations from PSP’s three closest perihelia. In two events at 9.9 solar radii ( R ⊙ ), we identify statistically significant (∼6 σ ) 3.1–3.2 mHz peaks in the magnetic field power spectrum, each appearing as a large-amplitude, spherically polarized Alfvénic wave train lasting approximately 35 minutes. These results demonstrate that global solar oscillations can reach the solar wind.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Volume
999
Issue
1
Pages
L4–L4
Publication date
23 February 2026
Language
EN