Open AccessAnisotropic weak turbulence of Alfvén waves in collisionless astrophysical plasmas
Author(s) -
Luo Qinghuan,
Melrose Don
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10191.x
Subject(s) - physics , magnetohydrodynamics , dissipation , turbulence , anisotropy , wave turbulence , alfvén wave , wavenumber , plasma , astrophysics , computational physics , compressibility , kinetic energy , k omega turbulence model , classical mechanics , k epsilon turbulence model , mechanics , quantum mechanics
The evolution of the Alfvén turbulence due to three‐wave interactions is discussed using kinetic theory for a collisionless, thermal plasma. There are three low‐frequency modes, analogous to the three modes of compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). When only Alfvén waves are considered, the known anisotropy of turbulence in incompressible MHD theory is reproduced. Inclusion of a fast mode wave leads to the separation of turbulence into two regimes: small wave numbers where three‐wave processes involving a fast mode are dominant, and large wave numbers where the three Alfvén wave process is dominant. Possible application of the anisotropic Alfvén turbulence to the interstellar medium and dissipation of magnetic energy in magnetars are discussed.