pith. sign in

arxiv: 1008.3513 · v1 · pith:RSN5GPA7new · submitted 2010-08-20 · 🌌 astro-ph.SR · physics.space-ph

A Universal Law for Solar-Wind Turbulence at Electron Scales

classification 🌌 astro-ph.SR physics.space-ph
keywords scalesrangespectrumelectroninertialbelowdissipationfluctuation
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

The interplanetary magnetic fluctuation spectrum obeys a Kolmogorovian power law at scales above the proton inertial length and gyroradius which is well regarded as an inertial range. Below these scales a power law index around $-2.5$ is often measured and associated to nonlinear dispersive processes. Recent observations reveal a third region at scales below the electron inertial length. This region is characterized by a steeper spectrum that some refer to it as the dissipation range. We investigate this range of scales in the electron magnetohydrodynamic approximation and derive an exact and universal law for a third-order structure function. This law can predict a magnetic fluctuation spectrum with an index of $-11/3$ which is in agreement with the observed spectrum at the smallest scales. We conclude on the possible existence of a third turbulence regime in the solar wind instead of a dissipation range as recently postulated.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.