Study of Dynamics and Evolution of Solar Wind During BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter Radial Alignment

The spacecraft radial alignment geometry is useful and intriguing for examining the solar wind’s radial evolution by observing a plasma parcel at varying helio- centric distances. This study focuses on the radial alignment between the Bepi- Colombo and Solar Orbiter (SolO) spacecraft. Utilizing particle and magnetic field data from both spacecraft, we initially characterize particle distribution and interplanetary magnetic field topology at 0.31 AU for BepiColombo and 0.67 AU for SolO. We identified the same magnetic field configuration measured at both locations by considering the propagation time shift. The magnetic field observations from onboard magnetometers on both space- craft have been used to delve into the nonlinear energy cascade mechanism and the intricate organization of magnetic field fluctuations, which govern the energy transfer rate and dissipation behavior. Additionally, we conduct a comparative analysis of flux data recorded by the Planetary Ion CAMERA (PICAM) of the SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) suite for BepiColombo and the Proton Alpha Sensor (PAS) of the SWA (Solar Wind Analyser) suite. This comprehensive study aims to create a valuable tool for in-depth analysis with aligned configurations. Moreover, it seeks to integrate fluid and magnetic investigations. For the first time, we utilize BepiColombo data to advance our comprehension of the radial evolution of solar wind plasma.