Interplanetary magnetic field directional fluctuations clearly show their intermittent character on time scales ranging from several minutes to the instrument time resolution. It has also been shown that intermittency increases with radial distance from the Sun and that most of these events are represented by tangential discontinuities separating regions of plasma (flux tubes) not necessarily in pressure balance. In this work we show how the radial behavior of intermittency is mainly due to the competing action of stochastic Alfvénic fluctuations and coherent structures convected by the wind. A comparison between fast (Alfvénic) and slow (non-Alfvénic) wind strongly supports this view.
On the Role of Coherent and Stochastic Fluctuations in the Radial Evolution of Intermittency of Interplanetary Magnetic Field Fluctuations
PIETROPAOLO, Ermanno
2001-01-01
Abstract
Interplanetary magnetic field directional fluctuations clearly show their intermittent character on time scales ranging from several minutes to the instrument time resolution. It has also been shown that intermittency increases with radial distance from the Sun and that most of these events are represented by tangential discontinuities separating regions of plasma (flux tubes) not necessarily in pressure balance. In this work we show how the radial behavior of intermittency is mainly due to the competing action of stochastic Alfvénic fluctuations and coherent structures convected by the wind. A comparison between fast (Alfvénic) and slow (non-Alfvénic) wind strongly supports this view.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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