The third-order law for magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with shear: Numerical investigation

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3398481· OSTI ID:21371109

Wan, M; Matthaeus, W H ^[1]; Servidio, S ^[1]; Oughton, S ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy and Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716 (United States)
2. Department of Mathematics, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240 (New Zealand)

The scaling laws of third-order structure functions for isotropic, homogeneous, and incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence relate the observable structure function with the energy dissipation rate. Recently [Wan et al. Phys. Plasmas 16, 090703 (2009)], the theory was extended to the case in which a constant velocity shear is present, motivated by the application of the third-order law to the solar wind. We use direct numerical simulations of two-dimensional MHD with shear to confirm this new generalization of the theory. The presence of the shear effect broadens the circumstances in which the law can be applied. Important implications for laboratory and space plasmas are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21371109
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PLASMA SIMULATION
SCALING LAWS
SHEAR
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS
TURBULENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS