Plasma beta dependence of the ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence: high-resolution 2D hybrid simulations
File(s)Franci_al_2016ApJ.pdf (590.82 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Franci, L
Landi, S
Matteini, L
Verdini, A
Hellinger, P
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We investigate properties of the ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence by means of two-dimensional high-resolution hybrid particle-in-cell simulations. We impose an initial ambient magnetic field perpendicular to the simulation box and add a spectrum of in-plane, large-scale, magnetic and kinetic fluctuations. We perform a set of simulations with different values of the plasma β, distributed over three orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 10. In all cases, once turbulence is fully developed, we observe a power-law spectrum of the fluctuating magnetic field on large scales (in the inertial range) with a spectral index close to −5/3, while in the sub-ion range we observe another power-law spectrum with a spectral index systematically varying with β (from around −3.6 for small values to around −2.9 for large ones). The two ranges are separated by a spectral break around ion scales. The length scale at which this transition occurs is found to be proportional to the ion inertial length, d i , for β Lt 1 and to the ion gyroradius, ${\rho }_{i}={d}_{i}\sqrt{\beta }$, for β Gt 1, i.e., to the larger between the two scales in both the extreme regimes. For intermediate cases, i.e., β ~ 1, a combination of the two scales is involved. We infer an empiric relation for the dependency of the spectral break on β that provides a good fit over the whole range of values. We compare our results with in situ observations in the solar wind and suggest possible explanations for such a behavior.
Date Issued
2016-12-09
Date Acceptance
2016-10-12
Citation
Astrophysical Journal, 2016, 833 (1)
ISSN
0004-637X
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Astrophysical Journal
Volume
833
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000390792000003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
ST/N000692/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
plasmas
solar wind
turbulence
DISSIPATION RANGE
MAGNETIC FLUCTUATIONS
FLUID SIMULATIONS
RADIAL EVOLUTION
ENERGY-SPECTRUM
MHD TURBULENCE
KINETIC SCALES
PROTON SCALES
POWER SPECTRA
1 AU
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
0305 Organic Chemistry
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 91