TR2013-013

Characterization of Flow-Magnetic Field Interactions in Magneto-Hydrodynamic Turbulence


    •  Richard, J.C., Kumar, G., Kalmar-Nagy, T., Girimaji, S.S., "Characterization of Flow-Magnetic Field Interactions in Magneto-Hydrodynamic Turbulence", Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, DOI: 10.11115/​1.4023323, Vol. 8, No. 3, January 2013.
      BibTeX TR2013-013 PDF
      • @article{Richard2013jan,
      • author = {Richard, J.C. and Kumar, G. and Kalmar-Nagy, T. and Girimaji, S.S.},
      • title = {Characterization of Flow-Magnetic Field Interactions in Magneto-Hydrodynamic Turbulence},
      • journal = {Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics},
      • year = 2013,
      • volume = 8,
      • number = 3,
      • month = jan,
      • doi = {10.11115/1.4023323},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2013-013}
      • }
  • Research Area:

    Dynamical Systems

TR Image
The Lorentz force at s = 0:18.
Abstract:

We examine the complex nonlinear flow-magnetic field dynamics in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. Using direct numerical simulations (DNS), we investigate the dynamical interactions subject to the influence of a uniform applied background magnetic field. The initial magnetic and kinetic Reynolds numbers (based on Taylor microscale) are 45 and there are no initial magnetic field fluctuations. The sum total of turbulent magnetic and kinetic energies decays monotonically. With time, the turbulent magnetic fluctuations grow by extracting energy from velocity fluctuations. Expectedly, the distribution of energy between kinetic and magnetic fluctuations exhibits large periodic oscillations from the equipartition state due to Alfven waves. We perform a detailed analysis of the flow-magnetic field coupling and posit a simple model for the energy interchange. Such dynamical analysis can provide the insight required for turbulence control and closure modeling strategies.

 

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