Temperature and density anti-correlations in solar wind fluctuations

Recent theoretical investigations of low Mach number flows, that describe two distinct approaches by fluids to the incompressible regime are summarized. The first includes the effects of relatively strong density and temperature fluctuations (Type I), while the second places fluctuations in mechanical pressure, density, and temperature on an equal footing (Type II). In the latter case, the relations between density and pressure are recovered, whereas the former case yields departures from incompressible behavior in that density and temperature fluctuations are predicted to be anti-correlated. It is suggested that nearly incompressible fluids can be classified as either Type I or II, and it is shown that the well-known pressure-balanced structures represent a subclass of static solutions within this classification. Two examples from Voyager data illustrate the potential for observing these distinct nearly incompressible dynamical ordering in the solar wind.