Transport of solar wind fluctuations: A two-component model

We present a new model for the transport of solar wind fluctuations which treats them as two interacting incompressible components: quasi‐two‐dimensional turbulence and a wave‐like piece. Quantities solved for include the energy, cross helicity, and characteristic transverse length scale of each com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Vol. 116; no. A8
Main Authors Oughton, S., Matthaeus, W. H., Smith, C. W., Breech, B., Isenberg, P. A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2011
Subjects
Astrophysics
Cosmic rays
Fluctuations
heliosphere
Planetology
Plasma physics
solar wind
Space
Spacecraft
transport
Turbulence
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Summary:We present a new model for the transport of solar wind fluctuations which treats them as two interacting incompressible components: quasi‐two‐dimensional turbulence and a wave‐like piece. Quantities solved for include the energy, cross helicity, and characteristic transverse length scale of each component, plus the proton temperature. The development of the model is outlined and numerical solutions are compared with spacecraft observations. Compared to previous single‐component models, this new model incorporates a more physically realistic treatment of fluctuations induced by pickup ions and yields improved agreement with observed values of the correlation length, while maintaining good observational accord with the energy, cross helicity, and temperature. Key Points Improved model of turbulence transport Determine the distribution of heliospheric turbulence Results useful for cosmic ray modulation, etc
Bibliography:istex:BF03F57D788B85599C53BB44EC2BB1D60C0E58C6
ArticleID:2010JA016365
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ISSN:0148-0227
2169-9380
2156-2202
2169-9402
DOI:10.1029/2010JA016365