scholarly journals On uniqueness of transfer rates in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franck Plunian ◽  
Rodion Stepanov ◽  
Mahendra Kumar Verma

In hydrodynamic and MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) turbulence, formal expressions for the transfer rates rely on integrals over wavenumber triads $(\boldsymbol{k},\boldsymbol{p},\boldsymbol{q})$ satisfying $\boldsymbol{k}+\boldsymbol{p}+\boldsymbol{q}=0$ . As an example $S_{E}^{uu}(\boldsymbol{k}\mid \boldsymbol{p},\boldsymbol{q})$ denotes the kinetic energy transfer rate to the mode $\boldsymbol{k}$ , from the two other modes in the triad, $\boldsymbol{p}$ and $\boldsymbol{q}$ . However as noted by Kraichnan (Phys. Rev., vol. 111, 1958, pp. 1747–1747), in $S_{E}^{uu}(\boldsymbol{k}\mid \boldsymbol{p},\boldsymbol{q})$ , what fraction of the energy transferred to the mode $\boldsymbol{k}$ originated from $\boldsymbol{p}$ and which from $\boldsymbol{q}$ is unknown. Such an expression is thus incongruent with the customary description of turbulence in terms of two-scale energy exchange. Notwithstanding this issue, Dar et al. (Physica D, vol. 157 (3), 2001, pp. 207–225) further decomposed these transfers into separate contributions from $\boldsymbol{p}$ -to- $\boldsymbol{k}$ and $\boldsymbol{q}$ -to- $\boldsymbol{k}$ , thus introducing the concept of mode-to-mode transfers that they applied to MHD turbulence. Doing so, they had to set aside additional transfers circulating within each triad, but failed to calculate them. In the present paper we explain how to derive the complete expressions of the mode-to-mode transfers, including the circulating transfers. We do it for kinetic energy and kinetic helicity in hydrodynamic turbulence, for kinetic energy, magnetic energy and magnetic helicity in MHD turbulence. We find that the degree of non-uniqueness of the energy transfers derived from the induction equation is a priori higher than the one derived from the Navier–Stokes equations. However, separating the contribution of magnetic advection from magnetic stretching, the energy mode-to-mode transfer rates involving the magnetic field become uniquely defined, in striking contrast to the hydrodynamic case. The magnetic helicity mode-to-mode transfer rate is also found to be uniquely defined, contrary to kinetic helicity in hydrodynamics. We find that shell-to-shell transfer rates have the same properties as mode-to-mode transfer rates. Finally calculating the fluxes, we show how the circulating transfers cancel in accordance with conservation laws.

1981 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 419-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Léorat ◽  
A. Pouquet ◽  
U. Frisch

Liquid-sodium-cooled breeder reactors may soon be operating at magnetic Reynolds numbers RM where magnetic fields can be self-excited by a dynamo mechanism (as first suggested by Bevir 1973). Such flows have kinetic Reynolds numbers RV of the order of 107 and are therefore highly turbulent.This leads us to investigate the behaviour of MHD turbulence with high RV and low magnetic Prandtl numbers. We use the eddy-damped quasi-normal Markovian closure applied to the MHD equations. For simplicity we restrict ourselves to homogeneous and isotropic turbulence, but we do include helicity.We obtain a critical magnetic Reynolds number RMc of the order of a few tens (non-helical case) above which magnetic energy is present. RMc is practically independent of RV (in the range 40 to 106). RMc can be considerably decreased by the presence of helicity: when the overall size of the flow L is much larger than the integral scale l0, RMc can drop below unity as suggested by an α-effect argument. When L ≈ l0 the drop can still be substantial (factor of 6) when helicity is a maximum. We examine how the turbulence is modified when RM crosses RMc: presence of magnetic energy, decreased kinetic energy, steepening of kinetic-energy spectrum, etc.We make no attempt to obtain quantitative estimates for a breeder reactor, but discuss some of the possible consequences of exceeding RMc, such as decreased turbulent heat transport. More precise information may be obtained from numerical simulations and experiments (including some in the subcritical regime).


2012 ◽  
Vol 703 ◽  
pp. 238-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke A. K. Blackbourn ◽  
Chuong V. Tran

AbstractWe study two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, with an emphasis on its energetics and inertial-range scaling laws. A detailed spectral analysis shows that dynamo triads (those converting kinetic into magnetic energy) are associated with a direct magnetic energy flux while anti-dynamo triads (those converting magnetic into kinetic energy) are associated with an inverse magnetic energy flux. As both dynamo and anti-dynamo interacting triads are integral parts of the direct energy transfer, the anti-dynamo inverse flux partially neutralizes the dynamo direct flux, arguably resulting in relatively weak direct energy transfer and giving rise to dynamo saturation. This result is consistent with a qualitative prediction of energy transfer reduction due to Alfvén wave effects by the Iroshnikov–Kraichnan theory (which was originally formulated for magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in three dimensions). We numerically confirm the correlation between dynamo action and direct magnetic energy flux and investigate the applicability of quantitative aspects of the Iroshnikov–Kraichnan theory to the present case, particularly its predictions of energy equipartition and ${k}^{\ensuremath{-} 3/ 2} $ spectra in the energy inertial range. It is found that for turbulence satisfying the Kraichnan condition of magnetic energy at large scales exceeding total energy in the inertial range, the kinetic energy spectrum, which is significantly shallower than ${k}^{\ensuremath{-} 3/ 2} $, is shallower than its magnetic counterpart. This result suggests no energy equipartition. The total energy spectrum appears to depend on the energy composition of the turbulence but is clearly shallower than ${k}^{\ensuremath{-} 3/ 2} $ for $r\approx 2$, even at moderate resolutions. Here $r\approx 2$ is the magnetic-to-kinetic energy ratio during the stage when the turbulence can be considered fully developed. The implication of the present findings is discussed in conjunction with further numerical results on the dependence of the energy dissipation rate on resolution.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timofey Zinyakov ◽  
Arakel Petrosyan

<p>Numerical studies of two-dimensional β-plane homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic turbulence are presented. The study of the fundamental properties of such turbulence allows understanding the evolution of various astrophysical objects from the Sun and stars to planetary systems, galaxies, and galaxy clusters. Energy spectra and cascade process in two-dimensional β-plane MHD are studied.</p><p>In this work the equations of two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics with the Coriolis force in the β-plane approximation are used for the qualitative analysis and numerical simulation of processes in plasma astrophysics. The equations are solved on a square box of edge size 2π with periodic boundary conditions applying a the pseudospectral method using the 2/3 rule for dealiasing. The results of numerical simulation of two-dimensional β-plane MHD turbulence with a spatial resolution of 1024 × 1024 and 4096 × 4096 with different Rossby parameters β and different Reynolds numbers are presented.</p><p>It is found that only unsteady zonal flows with complex temporal dynamics are formed in two-dimensional β-plane magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. It is shown that flow nonstationarity is due to the appearance of isotropic magnetic islands caused by the Lorentz force in the system. The formation of Iroshnikov–Kraichnan spectrum is shown in the early stages of evolution of two-dimensional β-plane magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. The self-similarity of the decay of Iroshnikov–Kraichnan spectrum is studied. On long time scale violation of self-similarity of the decay and formation of Kolmogorov spectrum is discovered. The inverse cascade of kinetic energy, which is characteristic of the detected Kolmogorov spectrum, provides the formation of zonal flows.</p><p>This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 19-02-00016).</p>


1975 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 769-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Frisch ◽  
A. Pouquet ◽  
J. LÉOrat ◽  
A. Mazure

Some of the consequences of the conservation of magnetic helicity$\int \rm{a.b}\it{d}^{\rm{3}}\rm{r\qquad (a\; =\; vector\; potential\; of\; magnetic\; field\; b)}$for incompressible three-dimensional turbulent MHD flows are investigated. Absolute equilibrium spectra for inviscid infinitely conducting flows truncated at lower and upper wavenumberskminandkmaxare obtained. When the total magnetic helicity approaches an upper limit given by the total energy (kinetic plus magnetic) divided bykmin, the spectra of magnetic energy and helicity are strongly peaked nearkmin; in addition, when the cross-correlations between the velocity and magnetic fields are small, the magnetic energy density nearkmingreatly exceeds the kinetic energy density. Several arguments are presented in favour of the existence of inverse cascades of magnetic helicity towards small wavenumbers leading to the generation of large-scale magnetic energy.


Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
John V. Shebalin

We present theoretical and computational results in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence that we feel are essential to understanding the geodynamo. These results are based on a mathematical model that focuses on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence, but ignores compressibility and thermal effects, as well as imposing model-dependent boundary conditions. A principal finding is that when a turbulent magnetofluid is in quasi-equilibrium, the magnetic energy in the internal dipole component is equal to the magnetic helicity multiplied by the dipole wavenumber. In the case of the Earth, measurement of the exterior magnetic field gives us, through boundary conditions, the internal poloidal magnetic field. The connection between magnetic helicity and dipole field in the liquid core then gives us the toroidal part of the internal dipole field and a model value of 3 mT for the average core dipole magnetic field. Here, we present the theoretical analysis and numerical simulations that lead to these conclusions. We also test an earlier assertion that differential oblateness may be related to dipole alignment, and while there is an effect, rotation appears to be far more important. In addition, the relationship between dipole quasi-stationarity, broken ergodicity and broken symmetry is clarified. Lastly, we discuss how inertial waves in a rotating magnetofluid can affect dipole alignment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1913-1927 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bruno ◽  
R. D'Amicis ◽  
B. Bavassano ◽  
V. Carbone ◽  
L. Sorriso-Valvo

Abstract. This study focuses on the role that magnetically dominated fluctuations have within the solar wind MHD turbulence. It is well known that, as the wind expands, magnetic energy starts to dominate over kinetic energy but we lack of a statistical study apt to estimate the relevance of these fluctuations depending on wind speed, radial distance from the sun and heliographic latitude. Our results suggest that this kind of fluctuations can be interpreted as non-propagating structures, advected by the wind during its expansion. In particular, observations performed in the ecliptic revealed a clear radial dependence of these magnetic structures within fast wind, but not within slow wind. At short heliocentric distances (~0.3 AU) the turbulent population is largely dominated by Alfvénic fluctuations characterized by high values of normalized cross-helicity and a remarkable level of energy equipartition. However, as the wind expands, a new-born population, characterized by lower values of Alfvénicity and a clear imbalance in favor of magnetic energy becomes visible and clearly distinguishable from the Alfvénic population largely characterized by an outward sense of propagation. We estimate that more than 20% of all the analyzed intervals of hourly scale within fast wind are characterized by normalized cross-helicity close to zero and magnetic energy largely dominating over kinetic energy. Most of these advected magnetic structures result to be non-compressive and might represent the crossing of the border between adjacent flux tubes forming, as suggested in literature, the advected background structure of the interplanetary magnetic field. On the other hand, their features are also well fitted by the Magnetic Field Directional Turnings paradigm as proposed in literature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
John V. Shebalin

Fourier analysis of incompressible, homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence produces a model dynamical system on which to perform numerical experiments. Statistical methods are used to understand the results of ideal (i.e., nondissipative) MHD turbulence simulations, with the goal of finding those aspects that survive the introduction of dissipation. This statistical mechanics is based on a Boltzmannlike probability density function containing three “inverse temperatures,” one associated with each of the three ideal invariants: energy, cross helicity, and magnetic helicity. However, these inverse temperatures are seen to be functions of a single parameter that may defined as the “temperature” in a statistical and thermodynamic sense: the average magnetic energy per Fourier mode. Here, we discuss temperature and entropy in ideal MHD turbulence and their use in understanding numerical experiments and physical observations.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 688-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Mahajan ◽  
C. Wei

In most of the previous numerical and semi-analytical studies of silicon epitaxial deposition, a common practice has been to neglect the buoyancy flow, Dufour, Soret, and property variation effects. In this paper, we take a critical look at the validity of that approach and point out some fallacies. The geometric configuration studied is a horizontal reactor for the susceptor tilt angles of 0 and 2.9 deg. The full Navier-Stokes equations coupled with those for the energy and species transfer are solved numerically for a range of parameters typical of commercial silicon epitaxial deposition systems. The effects of ignoring terms due to buoyancy, Dufour, Soret, and variable properties on the mass transfer rate are systematically evaluated. The results indicate that for typical horizontal epitaxial deposition parameters, the buoyancy and Dufour effects have negligible effect on the mass transfer rate, while the Soret and property variation have a large impact. In light of this information, it is shown that the agreement reported in the past between the experimental and numerical/analytical studies is coincidental. The implication is that these assumptions must be critically examined for a given CVD system and not ignored a priori. Finally, the effects of important parameters—reactor height, inlet velocity, inlet concentration, and susceptor temperature—on the deposition characteristics are included to provide guidelines for controlling the epitaxial layer thickness and uniformity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
R. Stepanov ◽  
◽  
V. Titov ◽  
◽  

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