Kinetic Cascade in Solar-wind Turbulence: 3D3V Hybrid-kinetic Simulations with Electron Inertia
- Dipartimento di Fisica “E. Fermi,” Università di Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa (Italy)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria, I-87036 Rende (CS) (Italy)
Understanding the nature of the turbulent fluctuations below the ion gyroradius in solar-wind (SW) turbulence is a great challenge. Recent studies have been mostly in favor of kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW)-type fluctuations, but other kinds of fluctuations with characteristics typical of magnetosonic, whistler, and ion-Bernstein modes could also play a role depending on the plasma parameters. Here, we investigate the properties of the subproton-scale cascade with high-resolution hybrid-kinetic simulations of freely decaying turbulence in 3D3V phase space, including electron inertia effects. Two proton plasma beta are explored: the “intermediate” β {sub p} = 1 and “low” β {sub p} = 0.2 regimes, both typically observed in the SW and corona. The magnetic energy spectum exhibits k{sub ⊥}{sup −8/3} and k{sub ∥}{sup −7/2} power laws at β {sub p} = 1, while they are slightly steeper at β {sub p} = 0.2. Nevertheless, both regimes develop a spectral anisotropy consistent with k{sub ∥}∼k{sub ⊥}{sup 2/3} at k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub p}>1 and pronounced small-scale intermittency. In this context, we find that the kinetic-scale cascade is dominated by KAW-like fluctuations at β {sub p} = 1, whereas the low-β case presents a more complex scenario suggesting the simultaneous presence of different types of fluctuations. In both regimes, however, a possible role of the ion-Bernstein-type fluctuations at the smallest scales cannot be excluded.
- OSTI ID:
- 22872550
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 846, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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