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Title: Ion‐scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence at high and low beta

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL062009· OSTI ID:1618148
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4]
  1. Department of Physics Imperial College London London UK, Space Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley California USA
  2. Space Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley California USA
  3. Department of Physics University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
  4. Space Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley California USA, Department of Physics University of California Berkeley California USA
+ Show Author Affiliations

The power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind at 1 AU displays a break between two power laws in the range of spacecraft-frame frequencies 0.1 to 1 Hz. These frequencies correspond to spatial scales in the plasma frame near the proton gyroradius pi and proton inertial length di. At 1 AU it is difficult to determine which of these is associated with the break, since di=ρ1/$$\sqrt{β_{⟂i}}$$ and the perpendicular ion plasma beta is typically β⟂i~1. To address this, several exceptional intervals with β⟂i≪1 and β⟂i≫1 were investigated, during which these scales were well separated. It was found that for β⟂i≪1 the break occurs at di and for β⟂i≫1 at pi, i.e., the larger of the two scales. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, including Alfvén wave dispersion, damping, and current sheets.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0003888; NNX14AH16G
OSTI ID:
1618148
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1342516; OSTI ID: 1458532; OSTI ID: 1785799
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 41 Journal Issue: 22; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 119 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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