Solar wind compressible turbulence near proton scales: Cluster observations

Journal Article · Fri Mar 25 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4943829· OSTI ID:22590912

Wang, Tieyan; Cao, Jinbin; Fu, Huishan; Yang, Jian ^[1]

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1. Space Science Institute, School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing (China)

The solar wind compressible turbulence attracts more attention recently due to its possible role in plasma heating. Using the plasma density and magnetic field measured simultaneously by the Cluster C1 probe, we statistically investigate the wave characteristics of the proton-scale compressible turbulence. In most cases, the density and magnetic field strength fluctuations almost show no positive correlation, suggesting the absence of fast mode waves. Moreover, the magnetic compressibility C{sub b} as measured by the level of magnetic fluctuations parallel to the background field, is enhanced continuously around proton scales and is consistent with kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) prediction. Interestingly, kinetic slow mode waves (KSW) are identified in a few cases through large values of C{sub b} and plasma compressibility C{sub p}, together with the the anti-correlation between n and B. We suggest that both KAW and KSW can account for the compressible fluctuations energy, while their relative proportions under certain plasma condition require further studies.

• OSTI ID: 22590912
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1720; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
ASTROPHYSICS
COMPRESSIBILITY
CORRELATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA HEATING
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR WIND
TURBULENCE