Potential Solar Precursors to Magnetic Switchbacks
Abstract The origin of magnetic switchbacks—large-amplitude, spherically polarized magnetic-field fluctuations with local polarity inversions shown to be nearly ubiquitous in the inner heliosphere by Parker Solar Probe—is presently one of the most outstanding open questions in solar and heliospheric science. The occurrence of these structures in the young solar wind is a topic of active research, focusing not only on their characteristics and evolution but also on unraveling the puzzle of their origin. We first discuss the potential influence on switchback (SB) formation of large-scale coronal dynamics and restructuring processes that shape and regulate the extended solar corona. Following that, we review the dynamics, physical properties, occurrence rate, and energetics of numerous possible precursor small-scale dynamic events that occur throughout the solar atmosphere, emphasizing their possible roles in creating SBs. Finally, we discuss some recent studies attempting to connect in situ observations of SBs and SB patches with remote-sensing observations, and the related challenges in identifying solar wind source regions precisely and linking in situ observations to transient solar phenomena. We also clarify the terminology used by the solar community to describe small-scale solar phenomena.
Authors
- N. E. Raouafi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2409-3742)
- M. Velli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2381-3106)
- A. P. Rouillard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4039-5767)
- Durgesh Tripathi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-6254)
- É. Pariat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2900-0608)
- S. Patsourakos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3345-9697)
- P. F. Wyper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6442-7818)
- K. Tziotziou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2542-7073)
- C. Froment (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5315-2890)
- M. S. Madjarska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9806-2485)
- Alphonse C. Sterling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1281-897X)
- J. T. Karpen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6975-5642)
Institutions
- Université d'Orléans (FR)
- Marshall Space Flight Center (US)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Planetary Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- École Polytechnique (FR)
- Durham University (GB)
- University of Ioannina (GR)
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (DE)
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KR)
- Space Research and Technology Institute (BG)
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (US)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Heliophysics (US)
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (DE)
- National Observatory of Athens (GR)
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES)
- Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (FR)
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (FR)
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Space Science Reviews
- Published
- 2026-07-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-026-01312-8
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.37
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Heliophysics Division
- International Space Science Institute