Two-dimensional state in driven magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Journal Article · Tue Feb 15 00:00:00 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]

---

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), Vol. 83, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.83.026405; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; 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
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
RESOLUTION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TURBULENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MECHANICS
SIMULATION
SPECTRA
VARIATIONS