Intermittent nature of solar wind turbulence near the Earth's bow shock: Phase coherence and non-Gaussianity

Journal Article · Sun Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.75.046401· OSTI ID:21072421

Koga, D; Chian, A C -L; Miranda, R A; Rempel, E L ^[1]

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1. National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and World Institute for Space Environment Research (WISER), P.O. Box 515, Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo, 12227-010 (Brazil)

The link between phase coherence and non-Gaussian statistics is investigated using magnetic field data observed in the solar wind turbulence near the Earth's bow shock. The phase coherence index C{sub {phi}}, which characterizes the degree of phase correlation (i.e., nonlinear wave-wave interactions) among scales, displays a behavior similar to kurtosis and reflects a departure from Gaussianity in the probability density functions of magnetic field fluctuations. This demonstrates that nonlinear interactions among scales are the origin of intermittency in the magnetic field turbulence.

• OSTI ID: 21072421
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 75; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CORRELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
FLUCTUATIONS
INDEXES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PROBABILITY
PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTIONS
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR WIND
STATISTICS
TURBULENCE