An observational picture of solar-wind MHD turbulence

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Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, Magnetohydrodynamic Waves, Plasma Density, Solar Wind Velocity, Data Correlation, Fluctuation Theory, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Power Spectra, Propagation Modes, Variance (Statistics)

Scientific paper

Available observations of MHD fluctuations in the solar wind are reviewed. The Alfvenic character of observed low-frequency fluctuations is discussed, and it is noted that these fluctuations are also characterized by nearly constant magnetic field amplitudes and plasma densities, indicating the possible presence of magnetosonic fluctuations and that the Alfvenic waves are most likely incompressible. Statistical analysis of the magnetic field measurements in the solar wind indicates that, at least locally, the magnetic field fluctuations are in a plane perpendicular to the minimum variance direction, which is in turn apparently parallel to the average magnetic field, and that the power in the fluctuations appears anisotropically distributed. Power law spectral indices of the fluctuations are shown to cluster around 1.7 during periods of high correlation, and low variance in field strength and density, and indicate the turbulent nature of the fluctuations. The picture which then results is that of a uniformly turbulent fluid with a nonlinear cascade of energy through Alfvenic turbulence at intermediate wavelengths where there is little dissipation to very short wavelengths where cyclotron damping converts wave energy into thermal energy.

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