Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium
Three-dimensional time dependent numerical simulations of compressible magnetohydrodynamic fluids describing super-Alfvénic, supersonic and strongly magnetized space and laboratory plasmas show a nonlinear relaxation towards a state of near incompressibility. The latter is characterized essentially...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2007-07-01
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| Series: | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| Online Access: | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/14/351/2007/npg-14-351-2007.pdf |
| _version_ | 1828933517987282944 |
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| author | D. Shaikh G. P. Zank |
| author_facet | D. Shaikh G. P. Zank |
| author_sort | D. Shaikh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Three-dimensional time dependent numerical simulations of compressible magnetohydrodynamic fluids describing super-Alfvénic, supersonic and strongly magnetized space and laboratory plasmas show a nonlinear relaxation towards a state of near incompressibility. The latter is characterized essentially by a subsonic turbulent Mach number. This transition is mediated dynamically by disparate spectral energy dissipation rates in compressible magnetosonic and shear Alfvénic modes. Nonlinear cascades lead to super-Alfvénic turbulent motions decaying to a sub-Alfvénic regime that couples weakly with (magneto)acoustic cascades. Consequently, the supersonic plasma motion is transformed into highly subsonic motion and density fluctuations experience a passive convection. This model provides a self-consistent explaination of the ubiquitous nature of incompressible magnetoplasma fluctuations in the solar wind and the interstellar medium. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:16:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-96cd3a4e07d44b45b0af3670c53c124e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1023-5809 1607-7946 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:16:29Z |
| publishDate | 2007-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| spelling | doaj.art-96cd3a4e07d44b45b0af3670c53c124e2022-12-21T23:22:34ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79462007-07-01144351359Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar mediumD. ShaikhG. P. ZankThree-dimensional time dependent numerical simulations of compressible magnetohydrodynamic fluids describing super-Alfvénic, supersonic and strongly magnetized space and laboratory plasmas show a nonlinear relaxation towards a state of near incompressibility. The latter is characterized essentially by a subsonic turbulent Mach number. This transition is mediated dynamically by disparate spectral energy dissipation rates in compressible magnetosonic and shear Alfvénic modes. Nonlinear cascades lead to super-Alfvénic turbulent motions decaying to a sub-Alfvénic regime that couples weakly with (magneto)acoustic cascades. Consequently, the supersonic plasma motion is transformed into highly subsonic motion and density fluctuations experience a passive convection. This model provides a self-consistent explaination of the ubiquitous nature of incompressible magnetoplasma fluctuations in the solar wind and the interstellar medium.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/14/351/2007/npg-14-351-2007.pdf |
| spellingShingle | D. Shaikh G. P. Zank Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
| title | Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| title_full | Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| title_fullStr | Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| title_short | Three-dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| title_sort | three dimensional simulations of turbulent spectra in the local interstellar medium |
| url | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/14/351/2007/npg-14-351-2007.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dshaikh threedimensionalsimulationsofturbulentspectrainthelocalinterstellarmedium AT gpzank threedimensionalsimulationsofturbulentspectrainthelocalinterstellarmedium |