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Evolution of energy-containing turbulent eddies in the solar windPrevious theoretical treatments of fluid-scale turbulence in the solar wind have concentrated on describing the state and dynamical evolution of fluctuations in the inertial range, which are characterized by power law energy spectra. In the present paper a model for the evolution of somewhat larger, more energetic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluctuations is developed by analogy with classical hydrodynamic turbulence in the quasi-equilibrium range. The model is constructed by assembling and extending existing phenomenologies of homogeneous MHD turbulence, as well as simple two-length-scale models for transport of MHD turbulence in a weekly inhomogeneous medium. A set of equations is presented for the evolution of the turbulence, including the transport and nonlinear evolution of magnetic and kinetic energy, cross helicity, and their correlation scales. Two versions of the model are derived, depending on whether the fluctuations are distributed isotropically in three dimensions or restricted to the two-dimensional plane perpendicular to the mean magnetic field. This model includes a number of potentially important physical effects that have been neglected in previous discussions of transport of solar wind turbulence.
Document ID
19950045374
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Matthaeus, William H.
(Bartol Research Inst., Delaware Univ. Newark, DE, United States)
Oughton, Sean
(Bartol Research Inst., Delaware Univ. Newark, DE, United States)
Pontius, Duane H., Jr.
(Bartol Research Inst., Delaware Univ. Newark, DE, United States)
Zhou, YE
(Bartol Research Inst., Delaware Univ. Newark, DE, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: A10
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
95A76973
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-89-13627
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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