Driven dissipative whistler wave turbulence

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2146957· OSTI ID:20782383

Shaikh, Dastgeer; Zank, Gary P ^[1]

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1. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), University of California, Riverside, California 92521 (United States)

Driven dissipative whistler wave turbulence in two-dimensional electron magnetohydrodynamics is investigated using very high resolution nonlinear fluid simulations. It is shown that a dual cascade phenomenon of mean magnetic potential and energy invariants is in agreement with predictions based on statistical ensemble and Kolmogorov's theories. Turbulent length scales larger than the electron skin depth (whistler wave regime) exhibit a spectral break in the vicinity of the forcing wave number that separates the inverse and forward cascade regimes. On the other hand, length scales smaller than the electron skin depth behave like hydrodynamic eddies in which both small and large scale regimes exhibit identical turbulent spectra. In both cases, however, turbulent fluctuations follow an exact Kolmogorov-type spectra. While wave effects are strong in the whistler wave regime, they are absent entirely in the hydrodynamics regime of the driven electron magnetohydrodynamic turbulence.

• OSTI ID: 20782383
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRONS
FLUCTUATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA FLUID EQUATIONS
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
TURBULENCE
WHISTLERS