Numerical simulations to study solar wind turbulence

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3556676· OSTI ID:21535178

Sharma, R P; Sharma, Nidhi; Kumar, Sanjay ^[1]; Kumar, Sachin ^[2]; Singh, H D ^[3]

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1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016 (India)
2. Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities, Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad 201009 (India)
3. Department of Physical Sciences, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Sikkim University, Sikkim 737102 (India)

Numerical simulation of coupled equations of kinetic Alfven wave (KAW) and ion acoustic wave is presented in the solar wind. The nonlinear dynamical equations satisfy the modified Zakharov system of equations by taking the nonadiabatic response of the background density. The ponderomotive nonlinearity is incorporated in the wave dynamics. The effect of Landau damping of KAW is taken into account. Localization of magnetic field intensity and the wavenumber spectra (perpendicular and parallel) of magnetic fluctuations are studied in solar plasmas around 1 a.u. Our results reveal the formation of damped localized structures and the steeper spectra that are in good agreement with the observations. These damped structures and steeper turbulent spectra can be responsible for plasma heating and particle acceleration in solar wind.

• OSTI ID: 21535178
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 18; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DAMPING
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
LANDAU DAMPING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA WAVES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
TURBULENCE