Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations

Details Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufmsh21b0155b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #SH21B-0155

Statistics

2149 Mhd Waves And Turbulence, 2159 Plasma Waves And Turbulence, 7863 Turbulence

Scientific paper

Solar wind turbulence at 1 AU exhibits, on the one hand, a frequent high degree of Alfvenicity (or, cross helicity) and on the other hand, indications of a strong magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) cascade. The former is associated with a high degree of correlation of velocity and magnetic field -- in the limiting case they would be aligned -- while the latter requires nonzero values of v x b so that the cascade is suppressed when the fluctuation fields are aligned. Here we examine the statistics of the induced MHD-scale electric field at 1AU, to demonstrate how the degree of Alfvenicity is consistent with the observed induced electric field. The statistics support the view (Roberts et al, JGR, 92, 12023, 1987) that there remains at 1 AU some preference for an Alfvenicity associated with outward traveling fluctuations. However there is a dominance of non-Alfvenic turbulence that is sufficient to account for the observed distribution of induced electric field. A generic result is obtained that explains the sin(v,b) distribution, which is observed to peak at values corresponding to 90 degrees, even when some Alfvenic fluctuations ("0 degrees" or "180 degrees") are present. This helps to understand how Alfvenic fluctuations and turbulence can coexist in the solar wind.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Induced electric field and cross helicity in solar wind fluctuations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1644678