Parker: dynamics of the interplanetary gas and magnetic fields

What changed

Derived an expanding transonic solar wind and the magnetic-field geometry generated by solar rotation.

Scientific scope

The record is Parker's sole-author November 1958 Astrophysical Journal paper and its theoretical prediction. Biermann's comet-tail antecedent, Mariner 2 confirmation and later solar-wind acceleration models remain separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is Parker's sole-author November 1958 Astrophysical Journal paper and its theoretical prediction. Biermann's comet-tail antecedent, Mariner 2 confirmation and later solar-wind acceleration models remain separate.

Contributors

• Eugene N. Parker · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• DOI record for Parker interplanetary-gas paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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