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arXiv · 1611.08111

Revisiting a classic: the Parker-Moffatt problem

O. Pezzi·T. N. Parashar·S. Servidio·F. Valentini·C. L. Vasconez·Y. Yang·F. Malara·W. H. Matthaeus·P. Veltri
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Abstract

The interaction of two colliding Alfvén wave packets is here described by means of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and hybrid kinetic numerical simulations. The MHD evolution revisits the theoretical insights described by Moffatt, Parker, Kraichnan, Chandrasekhar and Elsässer in which the oppositely propagating large amplitude wave packets interact for a finite time, initiating turbulence. However, the extension to include compressive and kinetic effects, while maintaining the gross characteristics of the simpler classic formulation, also reveals intriguing features which go beyond the pure MHD treatment.

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O. Pezzi, T. N. Parashar, S. Servidio, F. Valentini, C. L. Vasconez, Y. Yang, F. Malara, W. H. Matthaeus, P. Veltri. 2016-11-24. Revisiting a classic: the Parker-Moffatt problem. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2F834%2F2%2F166

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