Two-dimensional state in driven magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.83.026405· OSTI ID:21560034

Bigot, Barbara ^[1]; Galtier, Sebastien ^[2]

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1. Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824 (United States)
2. Universite Paris-Sud, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, bat. 121, F-91405 Orsay (France)

The dynamics of the two-dimensional (2D) state in driven three-dimensional (3D) incompressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is investigated through high-resolution direct numerical simulations and in the presence of an external magnetic field at various intensities. For such a flow the 2D state (or slow mode) and the 3D modes correspond, respectively, to spectral fluctuations in the plane k{sub ||}=0 and in the area k{sub ||}>0. It is shown that if initially the 2D state is set to zero it becomes nonnegligible in few turnover times, particularly when the external magnetic field is strong. The maintenance of a large-scale driving leads to a break for the energy spectra of 3D modes; when the driving is stopped, the previous break is removed and a decay phase emerges with Alfvenic fluctuations. For a strong external magnetic field the energy at large perpendicular scales lies mainly in the 2D state, and in all situations a pinning effect is observed at small scales.

• OSTI ID: 21560034
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 83; ISSN 1539-3755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DECAY
ENERGY SPECTRA
FLUCTUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
RESOLUTION
SIMULATION
SPECTRA
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TURBULENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONS