ALFVEN WAVES IN THE SOLAR SUPERCORONA FROM FARADAY-ROTATION FLUCTUATION DATA

An analysis is presented of the statistical characteristics of fluctua tions in the Faraday rotation of 2.3-GHz signals from the Gelios-1 and Gelios-2 spacecraft during their passage through the circumsolar plas ma at heliocentric distances 3-15 R.. Various spectral representations and propagation regimes for the Alfven waves responsible for the Fara day rotation fluctuations are considered. Alfven waves with periods of similar to 10 min propagate from the Sun nearly free of absorption an d nonlinear interactions. The angular distribution of the Alfven fluct uations is very anisotropic: the inhomogeneities are elongated along t he magnetic field by a factor of 5-10. The energy flux in Alfven waves at a heliocentric distance of about 10R. considerably exceeds the pla sma kinetic energy flux, confirming that Alfven waves can play a signi ficant role in determining the energy balance of the outer solar coron a.