scholarly journals Emergence of intermittent structures and reconnection in MHD turbulence

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S274) ◽  
pp. 116-119
Author(s):  
Antonella Greco ◽  
Sergio Servidio ◽  
William H. Matthaeus ◽  
Pablo Dmitruk
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Numerical Algorithms ◽  
Magnetic Fluctuations ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Local Origin ◽  
Tangential Discontinuities

AbstractIn recent analyses of numerical simulation and solar wind dataset, the idea that the magnetic discontinuities may be related to intermittent structures that appear spontaneously in MHD turbulence has been explored in details. These studies are consistent with the hypothesis that discontinuity events founds in the solar wind might be of local origin as well, i.e. a by-product of the turbulent evolution of magnetic fluctuations.Using simulations of 2D MHD turbulence, we are exploring a possible link between tangential discontinuities and magnetic reconnection. The goal is to develop numerical algorithms that may be useful for solar wind applications.

scholarly journals On the probability distribution function of small-scale interplanetary magnetic field fluctuations

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 3751-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bruno ◽  
V. Carbone ◽  
L. Primavera ◽  
F. Malara ◽  
L. Sorriso-Valvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Robust Statistics ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
Parametric Instability ◽  
Field Vector ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Magnetic Fluctuations ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
The One

Abstract. In spite of a large number of papers dedicated to the study of MHD turbulence in the solar wind there are still some simple questions which have never been sufficiently addressed, such as: a) Do we really know how the magnetic field vector orientation fluctuates in space? b) What are the statistics followed by the orientation of the vector itself? c) Do the statistics change as the wind expands into the interplanetary space? A better understanding of these points can help us to better characterize the nature of interplanetary fluctuations and can provide useful hints to investigators who try to numerically simulate MHD turbulence. This work follows a recent paper presented by some of the authors which shows that these fluctuations might resemble a sort of random walk governed by Truncated Lévy Flight statistics. However, the limited statistics used in that paper did not allow for final conclusions but only speculative hypotheses. In this work we aim to address the same problem using more robust statistics which, on the one hand, forces us not to consider velocity fluctuations but, on the other hand, allows us to establish the nature of the governing statistics of magnetic fluctuations with more confidence. In addition, we show how features similar to those found in the present statistical analysis for the fast speed streams of solar wind are qualitatively recovered in numerical simulations of the parametric instability. This might offer an alternative viewpoint for interpreting the questions raised above.

scholarly journals Solar cycle dependence of scaling in solar wind fluctuations

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Chapman ◽  
B. Hnat ◽  
K. Kiyani
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Momentum Flux ◽  
Magnetic Fluctuations ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Scaling Properties ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Energy And Momentum ◽  
Cycle Dependence

Abstract. In this review we collate recent results for the statistical scaling properties of fluctuations in the solar wind with a view to synthesizing two descriptions: that of evolving MHD turbulence and that of a scaling signature of coronal origin that passively propagates with the solar wind. The scenario that emerges is that of coexistent signatures which map onto the well known "two component" picture of solar wind magnetic fluctuations. This highlights the need to consider quantities which track Alfvénic fluctuations, and energy and momentum flux densities to obtain a complete description of solar wind fluctuations.

scholarly journals Magnetic reconnection associated fluctuations in the deep magnetotail: ARTEMIS results

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Vörös
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neutral Sheet ◽  
Magnetic Fluctuations ◽  
Scaling Features ◽  
Proton Cyclotron ◽  
Probe Mission ◽  
Fast Reconnection

Abstract. On the basis of ARTEMIS two-probe mission magnetic reconnection (MR) outflow associated magnetic fluctuations and turbulence are analyzed on 19 February 2011. In the deep-tail, at distances between X = 45 – 51 RE, evidence for reconnection associated plasma sheet thinning was found, accompanied by heating of the plasma sheet. Correlated flow and field reversals and the large-scale Hall-effect signatures indicated the presence of the reconnection X-line. Within fast reconnection plasma outflows, magnetic fluctuations exhibit the same spectral scaling features and kinked spectra as magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind or in various parts of geospace. It was shown that the proton scale magnetic fluctuations are constrained by oblique firehose, proton cyclotron and mirror instability thresholds. For parallel plasma β|| > 1, where the thresholds converge, perpendicular magnetic fluctuations are enhanced. Magnetic compressibility decreases with the distance to the neutral sheet, however, near the instability thresholds it is comparable to the values obtained in the solar wind.

scholarly journals Numerical simulation of superhalo electrons generated by magnetic reconnection in the solar wind source region

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Ping Yang ◽  
Ling-Hua Wang ◽  
Jian-Sen He ◽  
Chuan-Yi Tu ◽  
Shao-Hua Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Wind Source

scholarly journals Scaling and singularity characteristics of solar wind and magnetospheric fluctuations

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Vörös ◽  
D. Jankovičová ◽  
P. Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Magnetic Fluctuations ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Magnetic Turbulence ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Interaction Processes ◽  
Ae Index ◽  
Self Organized Criticality

Abstract. Preliminary results are presented which suggest that scaling and singularity characteristics of solar wind and ground-based magnetic fluctuations appear to be a significant component in the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction processes. Of key importance is the intermittence of the "magnetic turbulence" as seen in ground-based and solar wind magnetic data. The methods used in this paper (estimation of flatness and multifractal spectra) are commonly used in the studies of fluid or MHD turbulence. The results show that single observatory characteristics of magnetic fluctuations are different from those of the multi-observatory AE-index. In both data sets, however, the influence of the solar wind fluctuations is recognizable. The correlation between the scaling/singularity features of solar wind magnetic fluctuations and the corresponding geomagnetic response is demonstrated in a number of cases. The results are also discussed in terms of patchy reconnection processes in the magnetopause and forced and/or self-organized criticality (F/SOC) of internal magnetosphere dynamics.

scholarly journals The Location of Magnetic Reconnection at Earth’s Magnetopause

2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Trattner ◽  
S. M. Petrinec ◽  
S. A. Fuselier
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Ion Beams ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Magnetic Shear ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Shear Model ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractOne of the major questions about magnetic reconnection is how specific solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions influence where reconnection occurs at the Earth’s magnetopause. There are two reconnection scenarios discussed in the literature: a) anti-parallel reconnection and b) component reconnection. Early spacecraft observations were limited to the detection of accelerated ion beams in the magnetopause boundary layer to determine the general direction of the reconnection X-line location with respect to the spacecraft. An improved view of the reconnection location at the magnetopause evolved from ionospheric emissions observed by polar-orbiting imagers. These observations and the observations of accelerated ion beams revealed that both scenarios occur at the magnetopause. Improved methodology using the time-of-flight effect of precipitating ions in the cusp regions and the cutoff velocity of the precipitating and mirroring ion populations was used to pinpoint magnetopause reconnection locations for a wide range of solar wind conditions. The results from these methodologies have been used to construct an empirical reconnection X-line model known as the Maximum Magnetic Shear model. Since this model’s inception, several tests have confirmed its validity and have resulted in modifications to the model for certain solar wind conditions. This review article summarizes the observational evidence for the location of magnetic reconnection at the Earth’s magnetopause, emphasizing the properties and efficacy of the Maximum Magnetic Shear Model.

scholarly journals Kinetic Models of Tangential Discontinuities in the Solar Wind

2020 ◽  
Vol 891 (1) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Neukirch ◽  
I. Y. Vasko ◽  
A. V. Artemyev ◽  
O. Allanson
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Kinetic Models ◽  
Tangential Discontinuities

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.

scholarly journals Astrophysical MHD turbulence: confluence of observations, simulations, and theory

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S294) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blakesley Burkhart ◽  
Alex Lazarian
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Particle Transport ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Dynamo Theory ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
The Galaxy

AbstractMagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is a critical component of the current paradigms of star formation, dynamo theory, particle transport, magnetic reconnection and evolution of the ISM. In order to gain understanding of how MHD turbulence regulates processes in the Galaxy, a confluence of numerics, observations and theory must be imployed. In these proceedings we review recent progress that has been made on the connections between theoretical, numerical, and observational understanding of MHD turbulence as it applies to both the neutral and ionized interstellar medium.

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