Full compressible 3D MHD simulation of solar wind

Identifying the heating mechanisms of the solar corona and the driving mechanisms of solar wind are key challenges in understanding solar physics. A full three-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation was conducted to distinguish between the heating mechanisms in the fast solar wind above the open field region. Our simulation describes the evolution of the Alivenic waves, which includes the compressible effects from the photosphere to the heliospheric distance s of 27 solar radii (R-circle dot). The hot corona and fast solar wind were reproduced simultaneously due to the dissipation of the Alfven waves. The inclusion of the transition region and lower atmosphere enabled us to derive the solar mass-loss rate for the first time by performing a full three-dimensional compressible MHD simulation. The Alfven turbulence was determined to be the dominant heating mechanism in the solar wind acceleration region (s > 1.3 R-circle dot), as suggested by previous solar wind models. In addition, shock formation and phase mixing are important below the lower transition region (s < 1.03 R-circle dot) as well.