The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant but varies in direction and strength. One of these variations shows a strong local reduction of the magnetic field strength and is called a magnetic hole. These holes are usually an indication that there is, or has been, a temperature difference in the plasma of the solar wind, with the temperature along the magnetic field lower than perpendicular. The MMS spacecraft data have been used to study the characteristics of these holes near Earth.

In this study we use multi-point spacecraft measurements of magnetic field and electron density derived from spacecraft potential to investigate the three-dimensional structure of solar wind plasma turbulence. We see that there is a dependence on the plasma beta (ratio of thermal to magnetic pressure) as well as a dependence on the type of wind i.e. fast or slow.

To investigate compressible plasma turbulence in the solar wind on proton kinetic scales, a high time resolution measurement of the density is obtained from the spacecraft potential. Correlation between the magnetic field strength and the density is investigated as is the rotation sense of the magnetic field. The analysis reveals that compressible fluctuations are characteristic of kinetic Alfvén waves or a mixture of kinetic Alfvén and kinetic slow waves which counter-propagate.