The nature of solar wind turbulence in the dissipation range at scales much smaller than the large magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scales remains under debate. Here, a two-dimensional model based on the hybrid code abbreviated as A.I.K.E.F. is presented, which treats massive ions as particles obeying the kinetic Vlasov equation and massless electrons as a neutralizing fluid. Up to a certain wavenumber in the MHD regime, the numerical system is initialized by assuming a superposition of isotropic Alfvén waves with amplitudes that follow the empirically confirmed spectral law of Kolmogorov. Then, turbulence develops and energy cascades into the dispersive spectral range, where also dissipative effects occur. Under typical solar wind conditions, weak turbulence develops as a superposition of normal modes in the kinetic regime. Spectral analysis in the direction parallel to the background magnetic field reveals a cascade of left-handed Alfvén/ion-cyclotron waves up to wave vectors where their resonant absorption sets in, as well as a continuing cascade of right-handed fast-mode and whistler waves. Perpendicular to the background field, a broad turbulent spectrum is found to be built up of fluctuations having a strong compressive component. Ion-Bernstein waves seem to be possible normal modes in this propagation direction for lower driving amplitudes. Also, signatures of short-scale pressure-balanced structures (very oblique slow-mode waves) are found.
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February 2012
Research Article|
February 16 2012
Kinetic cascade beyond magnetohydrodynamics of solar wind turbulence in two-dimensional hybrid simulations
D. Verscharen;
D. Verscharen
a)
1
Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung
, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
2Institut für Theoretische Physik,
Technische Universität Braunschweig
, Mendelssohnstr. 3, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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E. Marsch;
E. Marsch
b)
1
Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung
, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
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U. Motschmann;
U. Motschmann
c)
2Institut für Theoretische Physik,
Technische Universität Braunschweig
, Mendelssohnstr. 3, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
3
Institut für Planetenforschung
, DLR, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin-Adlershof, Germany
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a)
Electronic mail: [email protected].
b)
Electronic mail: [email protected].
c)
Electronic mail: [email protected].
d)
Electronic mail: [email protected].
Phys. Plasmas 19, 022305 (2012)
Article history
Received:
September 23 2011
Accepted:
January 03 2012
Citation
D. Verscharen, E. Marsch, U. Motschmann, J. Müller; Kinetic cascade beyond magnetohydrodynamics of solar wind turbulence in two-dimensional hybrid simulations. Phys. Plasmas 1 February 2012; 19 (2): 022305. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3682960
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