Reproduction scripts for "Helicity Barrier & Ion Cyclotron Heating in the Inner Heliosphere" (Kumar, 2026).
This repository contains the computational verification suite for a first-principles model of Alfvén wave dissipation in the solar corona and inner heliosphere. The model links the helicity barrier (Squire et al. 2021; Schekochihin et al. 2021) to observable quantities — heating rates, temperature anisotropies, and spectral features — using only solar-wind plasma parameters.
All formulas and numerical values in the paper are verified line-by-line against explicit computation.
| Section | Quantity | Paper Value |
|---|---|---|
| §2 | Alfvén speed v_A | 2.18 × 10⁶ m/s |
| §2 | Ion cyclotron frequency Ω_i | 9.58 × 10⁴ rad/s |
| §2 | Ion inertial scale ρ_i | 0.95 m |
| §2 | Plasma beta β_i | 0.0035 |
| §3 | Cascade rate ε_+ | C_d Z₊² Z₋ k_⊥ |
| §4 | Barrier transmission T(0.8) | 0.074 |
| §5 | ICR heating rate Q_ICR | 2.35 × 10³ W/m³ |
| §6 | KAW damping rate γ_KAW | 4.99 × 10³ s⁻¹ |
| §9 | PDI growth rate γ_PDI | 4.6 × 10⁴ s⁻¹ |
| §11 | Energy budget (Rivera et al. 2024) | 3.9 ≈ 3.64 W/m² |
python verify_all.pyRequires only NumPy. No other dependencies.
In imbalanced Alfvénic turbulence (cross-helicity σ_c > 0.8), the cascade of the dominant Elsasser field is blocked at ion scales by the helicity barrier. The blocked energy accumulates and dissipates via ion cyclotron resonance (ICR), explaining why protons are hotter than electrons in the solar wind.
The model predicts:
- Heating rate consistent with Rivera et al. (2024) energy budget
- Temperature anisotropy A_max ≈ 8, well above observed 1.2–1.8 (scattering limits it)
- PDI self-regulation maintains σ_c ~ 0.4–0.8 in fast wind
- Spectral index correlates with cross-helicity (confirmed by Yang et al. 2025)
- Squire et al. (2021) — Violation of zeroth law of turbulence
- Schekochihin et al. (2021) — First proof of helicity barrier
- Howes et al. (2008) — KAW damping formulation
- Rivera et al. (2024) — PSP energy budget
- Chen et al. (2020) — Cross-helicity at 0.17 AU
Public use with citation.