Recent progress in astrophysical plasma turbulence from solar wind observations
File(s)
Author(s)
Chen, CHK
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper summarises some of the recent progress that has been made in understanding astrophysical plasma turbulence in the solar wind, from in situ spacecraft observations. At large scales, where the turbulence is predominantly Alfvénic, measurements of critical balance, residual energy and three-dimensional structure are discussed, along with comparison to recent models of strong Alfvénic turbulence. At these scales, a few per cent of the energy is also in compressive fluctuations, and their nature, anisotropy and relation to the Alfvénic component is described. In the small-scale kinetic range, below the ion gyroscale, the turbulence becomes predominantly kinetic Alfvén in nature, and measurements of the spectra, anisotropy and intermittency of this turbulence are discussed with respect to recent cascade models. One of the major remaining questions is how the turbulent energy is dissipated, and some recent work on this question, in addition to future space missions which will help to answer it, are briefly discussed.
Date Issued
2016-12-05
Date Acceptance
2016-11-07
Citation
Journal of Plasma Physics, 2016, 82 (6)
ISSN
1469-7807
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Plasma Physics
Volume
82
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© Cambridge University Press 2016
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Grant Number
ST/N003748/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Physics
astrophysical plasmas
plasma nonlinear phenomena
space plasma physics
INCOMPRESSIBLE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC TURBULENCE
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC-FIELD
LOCAL INTERSTELLAR-MEDIUM
ALFVEN-WAVE TURBULENCE
MHD TURBULENCE
DENSITY-FLUCTUATIONS
ANISOTROPY MEASUREMENTS
ENERGY-DISSIPATION
TAYLOR HYPOTHESIS
RESIDUAL ENERGY
Fluids & Plasmas
0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle And Plasma Physics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
535820602