Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Scale-Dependent Angle Of Alignment Between Velocity And Magnetic Field Fluctuations In Solar Wind Turbulence, J. J. Podesta, Benjamin D.G. Chandran, A. Bhattacharjee, D. A. Roberts, M. L. Goldstein

Physics & Astronomy

Under certain conditions, freely decaying magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence evolves in such a way that velocity and magnetic field fluctuations delta v and delta B approach a state of alignment in which delta v proportional to delta B. This process is called dynamic alignment. Boldyrev has suggested that a similar kind of alignment process occurs as energy cascades from large to small scales through the inertial range in strong incompressible MHD turbulence. In this study, plasma and magnetic field data from the Wind spacecraft, data acquired in the ecliptic plane near 1 AU, are employed to investigate the angle theta(tau) between …