arXiv subjects

Sebastien Galtier

Publications and source records attributed to Sebastien Galtier.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Theory for helical turbulence under fast rotation

Recent numerical simulations have shown the strong impact of helicity on \ADD{homogeneous} rotating hydrodynamic turbulence. The main effect can be summarized through the following law, $n+\tilde n = -4$, where $n$ and $\tilde n$ are respectively the power law indices of the one-dimensional energy and helicity spectra. We investigate this rotating turbulence problem in the small Rossby number limit by using the asymptotic weak turbulence theory derived previously. We show that the empirical law is an exact solution of the helicity equation where the power law indices correspond to perpendicular (to the rotation axis) wave number spectra. It is proposed that when the cascade towards small-scales tends to be dominated by the helicity flux the solution tends to $\tilde n = -2$, whereas it is $\tilde n = -3/2$ when the energy flux dominates. The latter solution is compatible with the so-called maximal helicity state previously observed numerically and derived theoretically in the weak turbulence regime when only the energy equation is used, whereas the former solution is constrained by a locality condition.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Weak turbulence in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics

A weak wave turbulence theory is developed for two-dimensional (2D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). We derive and analyze the kinetic equation describing the three-wave interactions of pseudo-Alfvén waves. Our analysis is greatly helped by the fortunate fact that in 2D the wave-kinetic equation is integrable. In contrast with the 3D case, in 2D the wave interactions are nonlocal. Another distinct feature is that strong derivatives of spectra tend to appear in the region of small parallel (i.e. along the uniform magnetic field direction) wavenumbers leading to a breakdown of the weak turbulence description in this region. We develop a qualitative theory beyond weak turbulence describing subsequent evolution and formation of a steady state.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

Wave turbulence in magnetohydrodynamics

This chapter reviews the recent progress made mainly during the last two decades on wave turbulence in magnetized plasmas (MHD, Hall MHD and electron MHD) in the incompressible and compressible cases. The emphasis is made on homogeneous and anisotropic turbulence which usually provides the best theoretical framework to investigate space and laboratory plasmas. The interplanetary medium and the solar atmosphere are presented as two examples of media where anisotropic wave turbulence is relevant. The most important results of wave turbulence are reported and discussed in the context of space and simulated magnetized plasmas. Important issues and possible spurious interpretations are eventually discussed.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Exact relation for correlation functions in compressible isothermal turbulence

Compressible isothermal turbulence is analyzed under the assumption of homogeneity and in the asymptotic limit of a high Reynolds number. An exact relation is derived for some two-point correlation functions which reveals a fundamental difference with the incompressible case. The main difference resides in the presence of a new type of term which acts on the inertial range similarly as a source or a sink for the mean energy transfer rate. When isotropy is assumed, compressible turbulence may be described by the relation, $- {2 \over 3} ε_{\rm{eff}} r = {\cal F}_r(r)$, where ${\cal F}_r$ is the radial component of the two-point correlation functions and $ε_{\rm{eff}}$ is an effective mean total energy injection rate. By dimensional arguments we predict that a spectrum in $k^{-5/3}$ may still be preserved at small scales if the density-weighted fluid velocity, $ρ^{1/3} \uu$, is used.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Third-order Elsässer moments in axisymmetric MHD turbulence

Incompressible MHD turbulence is investigated under the presence of a uniform magnetic field $\bb0$. Such a situation is described in the correlation space by a divergence relation which expresses the statistical conservation of the Elsässer energy flux through the inertial range. The ansatz is made that the development of anisotropy, observed when $B_0$ is strong enough, implies a foliation of space correlation. A direct consequence is the possibility to derive a vectorial law for third-order Elsässer moments which is parametrized by the intensity of anisotropy. We use the so-called critical balance assumption to fix this parameter and find a unique expression.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Nonlinear diffusion equations for anisotropic MHD turbulence with cross-helicity

Nonlinear diffusion equations of spectral transfer are systematically derived for anisotropic magnetohydrodynamics in the regime of wave turbulence. The background of the analysis is the asymptotic Alfvén wave turbulence equations from which a differential limit is taken. The result is a universal diffusion-type equation in ${\bf k}$-space which describes in a simple way and without free parameter the energy transport perpendicular to the external magnetic field ${\bf B_0}$ for transverse and parallel fluctuations. These equations are compatible with both the thermodynamic equilibrium and the finite flux spectra derived by Galtier et al. (2000); it improves therefore the model built heuristically by Litwick \& Goldreich (2003) for which only the second solution was recovered. This new system offers a powerful description of a wide class of astrophysical plasmas with non-zero cross-helicity.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

On the two-dimensional state in driven magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

The dynamics of the two-dimensional (2D) state in driven tridimensional (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 plan $k_\parallel=0$ and in the area $k_\parallel>0$. It is shown that if initially the 2D state is set to zero it becomes non negligible 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 alfvénic 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.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

Development of Anisotropy in Incompressible Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence

We present a set of three-dimensional (3D) direct numerical simulations of incompressible decaying magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in which we investigate the influence of an external uniform magnetic field B_0. A parametric study in terms of B_0 intensity is made where, in particular, we distinguish the shear- from the pseudo-Alfven waves dynamics. The initial kinetic and magnetic energies are equal with a negligible cross-correlation. Both the temporal and spectral effects of B_0 are discussed. A sub-critical balance is found between the Alfven and nonlinear times with both a global and a spectral definition. The nonlinear dynamics of strongly magnetized flows is characterized by a different k_perp-spectrum (where B_0 defines the parallel direction) if it is plotted at a fixed k_// (2D spectrum) or if it is integrated (averaged) over all k_// (1D spectrum). In the former case a much wider inertial range is found with a steep power law, closer to the wave turbulence prediction than the Kolmogorov one like in the latter case. It is believed that the averaging effect may be a source of difficulty to detect the transition towards wave turbulence in natural plasmas. For the first time, the formation of filaments is reported within current and vorticity sheets in strongly magnetized flows which modifies our classical picture of dissipative sheets in conductive flows.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2007

Energy decay laws in strongly anisotropic MHD turbulence

We investigate the influence of a uniform magnetic field ${\bf B_0}=B_0 e//$ on energy decay laws in incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. The nonlinear transfer reduction along $B_0$ is included in a model that distinguishes parallel and perpendicular directions, following a phenomenology {\it à la} Kraichnan. We predict a slowing down of the energy decay due to anisotropy in the limit of strong $B_0$, with distinct power laws for energy decay of shear- and pseudo-Alfvén waves. Numerical results from the kinetic equations of Alfvén wave turbulence recover these predictions, and MHD numerical results clearly tend to follow them in the lowest perpendicular planes.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2005

On spectral scaling laws for incompressible anisotropic MHD turbulence

A heuristic model is given for anisotropic magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) turbulence in the presence of a uniform external magnetic field $B_0 {\bf {\hat e}_{\pa}}$. The model is valid for both moderate and strong $B_0$ and is able to describe both the strong and weak wave turbulence regimes as well as the transition between them. The main ingredient of the model is the assumption of constant ratio at all scales between \add{the} linear wave period and \add{the} nonlinear turnover timescale. Contrary to the model of critical balance introduced by Goldreich and Sridhar [P. Goldreich and S. Sridhar, ApJ {\bf 438}, 763 (1995)], it is not assumed in addition that this ratio be equal to unity at all scales which allows us to use the Iroshnikov-Kraichnan phenomenology. It is then possible to recover the widely observed anisotropic scaling law $\kpa \propto \kpe^{2/3}$ between parallel and perpendicular wavenumbers (with reference to $B_0 {\bf {\hat e}_{\pa}}$) and to obtain the universal prediction, $3α+ 2β= 7$, for the total energy spectrum $E(\kpe,\kpa) \sim \kpe^{-α} \kpa^{-β}$. In particular, with such a prediction the weak Alfvén wave turbulence constant-flux solution is recovered and, for the first time, a possible explanation to its precursor found numerically by Galtier et al [S. Galtier et al., J. Plasma Phys. {\bf 63}, 447 (2000)] is given.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2004

Influence of the definition of dissipative events on their statistics

A convenient and widely used way to study the turbulent plasma in the solar corona is to do statistics of properties of events (or structures), associated with flares, that can be found in observations or in numerical simulations. Numerous papers have followed such a methodology, using different definitions of an event, but the reasons behind the choice of a particular definition (and not another one) is very rarely discussed. We give here a comprehensive set of possible event definitions starting from a one-dimensional data set such as a time-series of energy dissipation. Each definition is then applied to a time-series of energy dissipation issued from simulations of a shell-model of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence as defined in Giuliani and Carbone (1998), or from a new model of coupled shell-models designed to represent a magnetic loop in the solar corona. We obtain distributions of the peak dissipation power, total energy, duration and waiting-time associated to each definition. These distributions are then investigated and compared, and the influence of the definition of an event on statistics is discussed. In particular, power-law distributions are more likely to appear when using a threshold. The sensitivity of the distributions to the definition of an event seems also to be weaker for events found in a highly intermittent time series. Some implications on statistical results obtained from observations are discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Statistical Study of Short Quiescent Times Between Flares

The study of the statistical distribution of short quiescent times ($\le$ 30 minutes) between solar flares has been investigated on a 1D MHD model. A power law behaviour is found which indicates the existence of sympathetic flaring. This prediction is supported by recent observations.

astro-ph↗