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Modeling the decay of energy containing eddies: A source of solar wind heatingTo understand the solar wind heating and acceleration mechanisms one needs to understand the decay of energy containing eddies. With this goal in mind, attempts have been made to extend the fluid dynamic phenomenology of large scale quasi-equilibrium to the case of magnetohydrodynamics. Matthaeus et al. have proposed a model for the inhomogeneous transport and decay of five mean variables, namely, two mean square Elsasser variables z(exp 2) (sub +/-) their correlation lengths, and the difference between the kinetic and magnetic energies. We test the validity of this model in the simplified case of homogeneous turbulence simulated in a periodic box. We propose a class of models and show that they may fit the simulation satisfactorily. Analytic solutions of this class of model reveal their inherent properties and demonstrate the difficulties associated with finite cross helicity. It is noted that adjustments are required to make the simplest models, which are based upon isotropic turbulence, scale properly with respect to the strength of the mean magnetic field. This can be interpreted as due to anisotropic turbulence, which can be modelled by simple parameterization in the phenomenology.
Document ID
19960021424
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hossain, M.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Gray, P. C.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Pontius, D. H.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Matthaeus, W. H.
(Delaware Univ. Newark, DE United States)
Oughton, S.
(University Coll. London, United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
96N24820
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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