This animation depicts minor ions in the solar wind spiraling around
magnetic field lines which oscillate back and forth in association
with outward-propagating ion cyclotron waves.  The ions damp the waves
at their cyclotron frequency thereby increasing their transverse
velocity and outflow velocity.  The animation illustrates theoretical
models of ion cyclotron resonant acceleration of minor ions which
provide a natural explanation of the highly anisotropic velocities
and high outflow velocities of minor ions observed with UVCS.

(Image credit: NASA/Dana Berry, Allied Signal Max Q digital
animation group)