Observation of Inertial Energy Cascade in Interplanetary Space Plasma

Journal Article · Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.99.115001· OSTI ID:21028217

Sorriso-Valvo, L ^[1]; Marino, R; Carbone, V; Lepreti, F; Veltri, P ^[2]; Noullez, A ^[3]; Bruno, R; Bavassano, B ^[4]; Pietropaolo, E ^[5]

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1. Licryl Regional Laboratory - INFM/CNR, Ponte P. Bucci, Cubo 33C, 87036 Rende (Italy)
2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita della Calabria, Ponte P. Bucci Cubo 31C, 87036 Rende (Italy)
3. Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, Nice (France)
4. IFSI/CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere, Rome (Italy)
5. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita dell'Aquila, L'Aquila (Italy)

Direct evidence for the presence of an inertial energy cascade, the most characteristic signature of hydromagnetic turbulence (MHD), is observed in the solar wind by the Ulysses spacecraft. After a brief rederivation of the equivalent of Yaglom's law for MHD turbulence, a linear relation is indeed observed for the scaling of mixed third-order structure functions involving Elsaesser variables. This experimental result firmly establishes the turbulent character of low-frequency velocity and magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind plasma.

• OSTI ID: 21028217
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 99, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.115001; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
SOLAR WIND
STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS
TURBULENCE