Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations
In this study, we probe the turbulence characteristic within the small-scale magnetic flux ropes (SSMFRs) close to the Sun using Parker Solar Probe (PSP) magnetic field data. The study includes 50 SSMFRs observed by PSP during Encounter 1, 2, and 3 between 35.74 R _☉ and 142.29 R _☉ distance from th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfc48 |
| _version_ | 1797404138873552896 |
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| author | Zubair I. Shaikh Geeta Vichare Ankush Bhaskar Anil N. Raghav Sofiane Bourouaine |
| author_facet | Zubair I. Shaikh Geeta Vichare Ankush Bhaskar Anil N. Raghav Sofiane Bourouaine |
| author_sort | Zubair I. Shaikh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we probe the turbulence characteristic within the small-scale magnetic flux ropes (SSMFRs) close to the Sun using Parker Solar Probe (PSP) magnetic field data. The study includes 50 SSMFRs observed by PSP during Encounter 1, 2, and 3 between 35.74 R _☉ and 142.29 R _☉ distance from the Sun. We observed that the average spectral index for all the selected SSMFR events is –1.49 ± 0.21. In line with expectations, we also saw average ∣ σ _m ∣ values close to zero throughout the inertial range. We also observed that the size of the eddy at the highest frequency is much smaller than the size of the SSMFRs, indicating anisotropy within it. Thus, our finding supports anisotropic models that feature the Iroshnikov–Kraichnan index. Our findings agree with the turbulence properties of the solar wind near the Sun. We also observe low ∼0.1 compressibility, indicating SSMFRs are dominant by Alfvénic fluctuations. In light of this, we believe such an incompressible MHD spectrum results from nonlinear interactions between Alfvénic fluctuations. As a result, our research contributes to understanding the energy cascade process and its transport in solar plasma within the inner heliosphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:50:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6ddf21a8bca412fad3d99c3f2664854 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:50:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6ddf21a8bca412fad3d99c3f26648542023-12-05T13:24:14ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-0195915010.3847/1538-4357/acfc48Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe ObservationsZubair I. Shaikh0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9206-6327Geeta Vichare1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3607-6923Ankush Bhaskar2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4281-1744Anil N. Raghav3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4704-6706Sofiane Bourouaine4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2358-6628Indian Institute of Geomagnetism , Plot 5, Sector 18, New Panvel, Navi Mumbai-410218, India ; zubairshaikh584@gmail.com; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley , 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USAIndian Institute of Geomagnetism , Plot 5, Sector 18, New Panvel, Navi Mumbai-410218, India ; zubairshaikh584@gmail.comSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre , ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram, 695022, IndiaUniversity Department of Physics , University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Santacruz (E), Mumbai-400098, IndiaJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory , 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USA; Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 University Boulevard , Melbourne, FL 32901, USAIn this study, we probe the turbulence characteristic within the small-scale magnetic flux ropes (SSMFRs) close to the Sun using Parker Solar Probe (PSP) magnetic field data. The study includes 50 SSMFRs observed by PSP during Encounter 1, 2, and 3 between 35.74 R _☉ and 142.29 R _☉ distance from the Sun. We observed that the average spectral index for all the selected SSMFR events is –1.49 ± 0.21. In line with expectations, we also saw average ∣ σ _m ∣ values close to zero throughout the inertial range. We also observed that the size of the eddy at the highest frequency is much smaller than the size of the SSMFRs, indicating anisotropy within it. Thus, our finding supports anisotropic models that feature the Iroshnikov–Kraichnan index. Our findings agree with the turbulence properties of the solar wind near the Sun. We also observe low ∼0.1 compressibility, indicating SSMFRs are dominant by Alfvénic fluctuations. In light of this, we believe such an incompressible MHD spectrum results from nonlinear interactions between Alfvénic fluctuations. As a result, our research contributes to understanding the energy cascade process and its transport in solar plasma within the inner heliosphere.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfc48Solar windInterplanetary turbulenceSpace plasmasAlfvén waves |
| spellingShingle | Zubair I. Shaikh Geeta Vichare Ankush Bhaskar Anil N. Raghav Sofiane Bourouaine Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations The Astrophysical Journal Solar wind Interplanetary turbulence Space plasmas Alfvén waves |
| title | Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations |
| title_full | Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations |
| title_fullStr | Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations |
| title_short | Nature of Turbulence inside Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes near the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Observations |
| title_sort | nature of turbulence inside small scale magnetic flux ropes near the sun parker solar probe observations |
| topic | Solar wind Interplanetary turbulence Space plasmas Alfvén waves |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfc48 |
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