Strong MHD helical turbulence and the nonlinear dynamo effect

1976 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pouquet ◽  
U. Frisch ◽  
J. Léorat
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Power Laws ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Inverse Cascade ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Dynamo Effect

To understand the turbulent generation of large-scale magnetic fields and to advance beyond purely kinematic approaches to the dynamo effect like that introduced by Steenbeck, Krause & Radler (1966)’ a new nonlinear theory is developed for three-dimensional, homogeneous, isotropic, incompressible MHD turbulence with helicity, i.e. not statistically invariant under plane reflexions. For this, techniques introduced for ordinary turbulence in recent years by Kraichnan (1971 a)’ Orszag (1970, 1976) and others are generalized to MHD; in particular we make use of the eddy-damped quasi-normal Markovian approximation. The resulting closed equations for the evolution of the kinetic and magnetic energy and helicity spectra are studied both theoretically and numerically in situations with high Reynolds number and unit magnetic Prandtl number.Interactions between widely separated scales are much more important than for non-magnetic turbulence. Large-scale magnetic energy brings to equipartition small-scale kinetic and magnetic excitation (energy or helicity) by the ‘Alfvén effect’; the small-scale ‘residual’ helicity, which is the difference between a purely kinetic and a purely magnetic helical term, induces growth of large-scale magnetic energy and helicity by the ‘helicity effect’. In the absence of helicity an inertial range occurs with a cascade of energy to small scales; to lowest order it is a −3/2 power law with equipartition of kinetic and magnetic energy spectra as in Kraichnan (1965) but there are −2 corrections (and possibly higher ones) leading to a slight excess of magnetic energy. When kinetic energy is continuously injected, an initial seed of magnetic field will grow to approximate equipartition, at least in the small scales. If in addition kinetic helicity is injected, an inverse cascade of magnetic helicity is obtained leading to the appearance of magnetic energy and helicity in ever-increasing scales (in fact, limited by the size of the system). This inverse cascade, predicted by Frischet al.(1975), results from a competition between the helicity and Alféh effects and yields an inertial range with approximately — 1 and — 2 power laws for magnetic energy and helicity. When kinetic helicity is injected at the scale linjand the rate$\tilde{\epsilon}^V$(per unit mass), the time of build-up of magnetic energy with scaleL[Gt ] linjis$t \approx L(|\tilde{\epsilon}^V|l^2_{\rm inj})^{-1/3}.$

Kolmogorov’s contributions to the physical and geometrical understanding of small-scale turbulence and recent developments

1991 ◽  
Vol 434 (1890) ◽  
pp. 183-210 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Self Similar ◽  
Scale Turbulence ◽  
High Reynolds ◽  
Non Gaussian

This paper reviews how Kolmogorov postulated for the first time the existence of a steady statistical state for small-scale turbulence, and its defining parameters of dissipation rate and kinematic viscosity. Thence he made quantitative predictions of the statistics by extending previous methods of dimensional scaling to multiscale random processes. We present theoretical arguments and experimental evidence to indicate when the small-scale motions might tend to a universal form (paradoxically not necessarily in uniform flows when the large scales are gaussian and isotropic), and discuss the implications for the kinematics and dynamics of the fact that there must be singularities in the velocity field associated with the - 5/3 inertial range spectrum. These may be particular forms of eddy or ‘eigenstructure’ such as spiral vortices, which may not be unique to turbulent flows. Also, they tend to lead to the notable spiral contours of scalars in turbulence, whose self-similar structure enables the ‘box-counting’ technique to be used to measure the ‘capacity’ D K of the contours themselves or of their intersections with lines, D' K . Although the capacity, a term invented by Kolmogorov (and studied thoroughly by Kolmogorov & Tikhomirov), is like the exponent 2 p of a spectrum in being a measure of the distribution of length scales ( D' K being related to 2 p in the limit of very high Reynolds numbers), the capacity is also different in that experimentally it can be evaluated at local regions within a flow and at lower values of the Reynolds number. Thus Kolmogorov & Tikhomirov provide the basis for a more widely applicable measure of the self-similar structure of turbulence. Finally, we also review how Kolmogorov’s concept of the universal spatial structure of the small scales, together with appropriate additional physical hypotheses, enables other aspects of turbulence to be understood at these scales; in particular the general forms of the temporal statistics such as the high-frequency (inertial range) spectra in eulerian and lagrangian frames of reference, and the perturbations to the small scales caused by non-isotropic, non-gaussian and inhomogeneous large-scale motions.

scholarly journals The vortex instability pathway in stratified turbulence

2013 ◽  
Vol 716 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Waite
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nonlinear Interactions ◽  
Stratified Turbulence ◽  
Transfer Energy ◽  
Columnar Vortex ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Flow Transitions

AbstractThe parameter regime of strong stable density stratification and weak rotation is an important one in geophysical fluid dynamics. These conditions exist at intermediate length scales in the atmosphere and ocean (mesoscale and sub-mesoscale, respectively), and turbulence here links large-scale quasi-geostrophic motions with small-scale dissipation. While major advances in the theory of stratified turbulence have been made over the last few decades, many open questions remain, particularly about the nature of the energy cascade. Recent numerical experiments and analysis by Augier, Chomaz & Billant (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 713, 2012, pp. 86–108) present a remarkably vivid illustration of the nonlinear interactions that drive such turbulence. They consider a columnar vortex dipole, which naturally three-dimensionalizes under the influence of strong stratification. Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities subsequently transfer energy directly to small scales, where the flow transitions into three-dimensional turbulence. This direct link between large and small scales is quite distinct from the usual picture of a turbulent cascade, in which nonlinear interactions are local in scale. But how important is this mechanism in the atmosphere and ocean?

Renormalization group analysis of the magnetohydrodynamic turbulence and dynamo

2021 ◽  
Vol 926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof A. Mizerski
Keyword(s):  
Renormalization Group ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Dynamical Equations ◽  
Renormalization Group Analysis ◽  
Magnetic Diffusivity

The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence appears in engineering laboratory flows and is a common phenomenon in natural systems, e.g. stellar and planetary interiors and atmospheres and the interstellar medium. The applications in engineering are particularly interesting due to the recent advancement of tokamak devices, reaching very high plasma temperatures, thus giving hope for the production of thermonuclear fusion power. In the case of astrophysical applications, perhaps the main feature of the MHD turbulence is its ability to generate and sustain large-scale and small-scale magnetic fields. However, a crucial effect of the MHD turbulence is also the enhancement of large-scale diffusion via interactions of small-scale pulsations, i.e. the generation of the so-called turbulent viscosity and turbulent magnetic diffusivity, which typically exceed by orders of magnitude their molecular counterparts. The enhanced resistivity plays an important role in the turbulent dynamo process. Estimates of the turbulent electromotive force (EMF), including the so-called $\alpha$ -effect responsible for amplification of the magnetic energy and the turbulent magnetic diffusion are desired. Here, we apply the renormalization group technique to extract the final expression for the turbulent EMF from the fully nonlinear dynamical equations (Navier–Stokes, induction equation). The simplified renormalized set of dynamical equations, including the equations for the means and fluctuations, is derived and the effective turbulent coefficients such as the viscosity, resistivity, the $\alpha$ -coefficient and the Lorentz-force coefficients are explicitly calculated. The results are also used to demonstrate the influence of magnetic fields on energy and helicity spectra of strongly turbulent flows, in particular the magnetic energy spectrum.

Dynamics of direct large-small scale couplings in coherently forced turbulence: concurrent physical- and Fourier-space views

1995 ◽  
Vol 283 ◽  
pp. 43-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Yeung ◽  
James G. Brasseur ◽  
Qunzhen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fourier Space ◽  
Distant Interactions ◽  
Long Range Interactions ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Non Local

As discussed in a recent paper by Brasseur & Wei (1994), scale interactions in fully developed turbulence are of two basic types in the Fourier-spectral view. The cascade of energy from large to small scales is embedded within ‘local-to-non-local’ triadic interactions separated in scale by a decade or less. ‘Distant’ triadic interactions between widely disparate scales transfer negligible energy between the largest and smallest scales, but directly modify the structure of the smallest scales in relationship to the structure of the energy-dominated large scales. Whereas cascading interactions tend to isotropize the small scales as energy moves through spectral shells from low to high wavenumbers, distant interactions redistribute energy within spectral shells in a manner that leads to anisotropic redistributions of small-scale energy and phase in response to anisotropic structure in the large scales. To study the role of long-range interactions in small-scale dynamics, Yeung & Brasseur (1991) carried out a numerical experiment in which the marginally distant triads were purposely stimulated through a coherent narrow-band anisotropic forcing at the large scales readily interpretable in both the Fourier- and physical-space views. It was found that, after one eddy turnover time, the smallest scales rapidly became anisotropic as a direct consequence of the marginally distant triadic group in a manner consistent with the distant triadic equations. Because these asymptotic equations apply in the infinite Reynolds number limit, Yeung & Brasseur argued that the observed long-range effects should be applicable also at high Reynolds numbers.We continue the analysis of forced simulations in this study, focusing (i) on the detailed three-dimensional restructuring of the small scales as predicted by the asymptotic triadic equations, and (ii) on the relationship between Fourier- and physical-space evolution during forcing. We show that the three-dimensional restructuring of small-scale energy and vorticity in Fourier space from large-scale forcing is predicted in some detail by the distant triadic equations. We find that during forcing the distant interactions alter small-scale structure in two ways: energy is redistributed anisotropically within high-wavenumber spectral shells, and phase correlations are established at the small scales by the distant interactions. In the numerical experiments, the long-range interactions create two pairs of localized volumes of concentrated energy in three-dimensional Fourier space at high wavenumbers in which the Fourier modes are phase coupled. Each pair of locally phase-correlated volumes of Fourier modes separately corresponds to aligned vortex tubes in physical space in two orthogonal directions. We show that the dynamics of distant interactions in creating small-scale anisotropy may be described in physical space by differential advection and distortion of small-scale vorticity by the coherent large-scale energy-containing eddies, producing anisotropic alignment of small-scale vortex tubes.Scaling arguments indicate a disparity in timescale between distant triadic interactions and energy-cascading local-to-non-local interactions which increases with scale separation. Consequently, the small scales respond to forcing initially through the distant interactions. However, as energy cascades from the large-scale to the small-scale Fourier modes, the stimulated distant interactions become embedded within a sea of local-to-non-local energy cascading interactions which reduce (but do not eliminate) small-scale anisotropy at later times. We find that whereas the small-scale structure is still anisotropic at these later times, the second-order velocity moment tensor is insensitive to this anisotropy. Third-order moments, on the other hand, do detect the anisotropy. We conclude that whereas a single statistical measure of anisotropy can be used to indicate the presence of anisotropy, a null result in that measure does not necessarily imply that the signal is isotropic. The results indicate that non-equilibrium non-stationary turbulence is particularly sensitive to long-range interactions and deviations from local isotropy.

scholarly journals Energy transfer in Hall-MHD turbulence: cascades, backscatter, and dynamo action

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
PABLO D. MININNI ◽  
ALEXANDROS ALEXAKIS ◽  
ANNICK POUQUET
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Transport Coefficients ◽  
Mean Field Theory ◽  
Mean Field ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Dynamo Action ◽  
Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽  
Hall Mhd

AbstractScale interactions in Hall magnetohydrodynamics (MHDs) are studied using both the mean field theory derivation of transport coefficients, and direct numerical simulations in three space dimensions. In the magnetically dominated regime, the eddy resistivity is found to be negative definite, leading to large-scale instabilities. A direct cascade of the total energy is observed, although as the amplitude of the Hall effect is increased, backscatter of magnetic energy to large scales is found, a feature not present in MHD flows. The coupling between the magnetic and velocity fields is different than in the MHD case, and backscatter of energy from small-scale magnetic fields to large-scale flows is also observed. For the magnetic helicity, a strong quenching of its transfer is found. We also discuss non-helical magnetically forced Hall-MHD simulations where growth of a large-scale magnetic field is observed.

High-Resolution Three-Dimensional MHD Simulations of Plasmoid Formation in Solar Flares

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Dahlin ◽  
Spiro Antiochos ◽  
C. Richard DeVore
Keyword(s):  
Current Sheet ◽  
Adaptive Mesh Refinement ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Adaptive Mesh ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Current Sheets

<p>In highly conducting plasmas, reconnecting current sheets are often unstable to the generation of plasmoids, small-scale magnetic structures that play an important role in facilitating the rapid release of magnetic energy and channeling that energy into accelerated particles. There is ample evidence for plasmoids throughout the heliosphere, from in situ observations of flux ropes in the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres to remote-sensing imaging of plasma ‘blobs’ associated with explosive solar activity such as eruptive flares and coronal jets. Accurate models for plasmoid formation and dynamics must capture the large-scale self-organization responsible for forming the reconnecting current sheet. However, due to the computational difficulty inherent in the vast separation between the global and current sheet scales, previous numerical studies have typically explored configurations with either reduced dimensionality or pre-formed current sheets. We present new three-dimensional MHD studies of an eruptive flare in which the formation of the current sheet and subsequent reconnection and plasmoid formation are captured within a single simulation. We employ Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) to selectively resolve fine-scale current sheet dynamics. Reconnection in the flare current sheet generates many plasmoids that exhibit highly complex, three-dimensional structure. We show how plasmoid formation and dynamics evolve through the course of the flare, especially in response to the weakening of the reconnection “guide field” linked to the global reduction of magnetic shear. We discuss implications of our results for particle acceleration and transport in eruptive flares as well as for observations by Parker Solar Probe and the forthcoming Solar Orbiter.</p>

Inverse cascade in simulated MHD turbulence driven by small scale source of magnetic helicity

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
R. Stepanov ◽  
◽  
V. Titov ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Helicity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Inverse Cascade

scholarly journals Reflection-driven magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the solar atmosphere and solar wind

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin D. G. Chandran ◽  
Jean C. Perez
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Heating Rate ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Inertial Range ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tube ◽  
Analytic Model ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Background Magnetic Field ◽  
Turbulent Heating

We present three-dimensional direct numerical simulations and an analytic model of reflection-driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the solar wind. Our simulations describe transverse, non-compressive MHD fluctuations within a narrow magnetic flux tube that extends from the photosphere, through the chromosphere and corona and out to a heliocentric distance  $r$ of 21 solar radii  $(R_{\odot })$ . We launch outward-propagating ‘ $\boldsymbol{z}^{+}$ fluctuations’ into the simulation domain by imposing a randomly evolving photospheric velocity field. As these fluctuations propagate away from the Sun, they undergo partial reflection, producing inward-propagating ‘ $\boldsymbol{z}^{-}$ fluctuations’. Counter-propagating fluctuations subsequently interact, causing fluctuation energy to cascade to small scales and dissipate. Our analytic model incorporates dynamic alignment, allows for strongly or weakly turbulent nonlinear interactions and divides the $\boldsymbol{z}^{+}$ fluctuations into two populations with different characteristic radial correlation lengths. The inertial-range power spectra of $\boldsymbol{z}^{+}$ and $\boldsymbol{z}^{-}$ fluctuations in our simulations evolve toward a $k_{\bot }^{-3/2}$ scaling at $r>10R_{\odot }$ , where $k_{\bot }$ is the wave-vector component perpendicular to the background magnetic field. In two of our simulations, the $\boldsymbol{z}^{+}$ power spectra are much flatter between the coronal base and $r\simeq 4R_{\odot }$ . We argue that these spectral scalings are caused by: (i) high-pass filtering in the upper chromosphere; (ii) the anomalous coherence of inertial-range $\boldsymbol{z}^{-}$ fluctuations in a reference frame propagating outwards with the $\boldsymbol{z}^{+}$ fluctuations; and (iii) the change in the sign of the radial derivative of the Alfvén speed at $r=r_{\text{m}}\simeq 1.7R_{\odot }$ , which disrupts this anomalous coherence between $r=r_{\text{m}}$ and $r\simeq 2r_{\text{m}}$ . At $r>1.3R_{\odot }$ , the turbulent heating rate in our simulations is comparable to the turbulent heating rate in a previously developed solar-wind model that agreed with a number of observational constraints, consistent with the hypothesis that MHD turbulence accounts for much of the heating of the fast solar wind.

Turbulent flow between counter-rotating concentric cylinders: a direct numerical simulation study

2008 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. 371-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. DONG
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Outer Cylinder ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Taylor Vortex ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Concentric Cylinders ◽  
High Reynolds

We report three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of the turbulent flow between counter-rotating concentric cylinders with a radius ratio 0.5. The inner- and outer-cylinder Reynolds numbers have the same magnitude, which ranges from 500 to 4000 in the simulations. We show that with the increase of Reynolds number, the prevailing structures in the flow are azimuthal vortices with scales much smaller than the cylinder gap. At high Reynolds numbers, while the instantaneous small-scale vortices permeate the entire domain, the large-scale Taylor vortex motions manifested by the time-averaged field do not penetrate a layer of fluid near the outer cylinder. Comparisons between the standard Taylor–Couette system (rotating inner cylinder, fixed outer cylinder) and the counter-rotating system demonstrate the profound effects of the Coriolis force on the mean flow and other statistical quantities. The dynamical and statistical features of the flow have been investigated in detail.

The macrodynamics of α-effect dynamos in rotating fluids

1975 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. V. R. Maekus ◽  
M. R. E. Proctor
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Past Study ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
General Will ◽  
Rotating Systems ◽  
Stellar Magnetic Fields

Past study of the large-scale consequences of forced small-scale motions in electrically conducting fluids has led to the ‘α-effect’ dynamos. Various linear kinematic aspects of these dynamos have been explored, suggesting their value in the interpretation of observed planetary and stellar magnetic fields. However, large-scale magnetic fields with global boundary conditions can not be force free and in general will cause large-scale motions as they grow. I n this paper the finite amplitude behaviour of global magnetic fields and the large-scale flows induced by them in rotating systems is investigated. In general, viscous and ohmic dissipative mechanisms both play a role in determining the amplitude and structure of the flows and magnetic fields which evolve. In circumstances where ohmic loss is the principal dissipation, it is found that determination of a geo- strophic flow is an essential part of the solution of the basic stability problem. Nonlinear aspects of the theory include flow amplitudes which are independent of the rotation and a total magnetic energy which is directly proportional to the rotation. Constant a is the simplest example exhibiting the various dynamic balances of this stabilizing mechanism for planetary dynamos. A detailed analysis is made for this case to determine the initial equilibrium of fields and flows in a rotating sphere.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document