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Quantifying scaling in the velocity field of the anisotropic turbulent solar wind

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Chapman, Sandra C. and Hnat, B.. (2007) Quantifying scaling in the velocity field of the anisotropic turbulent solar wind. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol.34 . ISSN 0094-8276

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL030518

Abstract

Solar wind turbulence is dominated by Alfvénic fluctuations with power spectral exponents that somewhat surprisingly evolve toward the Kolmogorov value of −5/3, that of hydrodynamic turbulence. We analyze in situ satellite observations at 1AU and show that the turbulence decomposes linearly into two coexistent components perpendicular and parallel to the local average magnetic field and determine their distinct intermittency independent scaling exponents. The first of these is consistent with recent predictions for anisotropic MHD turbulence and the second is closer to Kolmogorov-like scaling.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Solar wind, Magnetohydrodynamic waves
Journal or Publication Title:	Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher:	American Geophysical Union
ISSN:	0094-8276
Date:	2007
Volume:	Vol.34
Identification Number:	10.1029/2007GL030518
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Science and Technology Facilities Council (Great Britain) (STFC)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3872