Mean Magnetic Field Direction Research Articles

Measurement of the Taylor Microscale and the Effective Magnetic Reynolds Number in the Solar Wind With Cluster

AbstractWe use magnetic field data from the Cluster mission to estimate the value of the Taylor microscale and the effective magnetic Reynolds number in the interplanetary solar wind. Turbulent cascades can be characterized by the spatial scale at which dissipation begins to impact the local energy transfer, estimated by the Taylor microscale, as well as the separation between the injection and dissipation scales, estimated by the effective magnetic Reynolds number. Estimating the Taylor microscale requires measurements of the autocorrelation function at small separations. The Cluster spacecraft have exceptionally sensitive search coil magnetometers with high time resolution, making them ideal for measuring the Taylor microscale. We obtain a value of km; smaller than most previous measurements. We interpret this value as being smaller due to the higher time resolution, enabling the curvature of the autocorrelation function to be measured closer to the origin, giving a more accurate measurement. Combining the Taylor Microscale's computed value with concurrent correlation length measurements, we obtain a value of for the effective magnetic Reynolds number, which compares well to other observations. The four spacecraft of Cluster also allow directions transverse to the flow to be surveyed. The small separations (7 km) of Clusters 3 and 4 show that the Taylor microscale may vary as a function of direction to the mean magnetic field direction. The observed differences are small, requiring more observations to confirm this anisotropy.

Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS)

Context. We explore the chemistry of the most abundant C-, O-, S-, and N-bearing species in molecular clouds, in the context of the IRAM 30 m Large Programme Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular Clouds (GEMS). Thus far, we have studied the impact of the variations in the temperature, density, cosmic-ray ionisation rate, and incident UV field in a set of abundant molecular species. In addition, the observed molecular abundances might be affected by turbulence which needs to be accounted for in order to have a more accurate description of the chemistry of interstellar filaments. Aims. In this work, we aim to assess the limitations introduced in the observational works when a uniform density is assumed along the line of sight for fitting the observations, developing a very simple numerical model of a turbulent box. We searched for any observational imprints that might provide useful information on the turbulent state of the cloud based on kinematical or chemical tracers. Methods. We performed a magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulation in order to reproduce the turbulent steady state of a turbulent box with properties typical of a molecular filament before collapse. We post-processed the results of the MHD simulation with a chemical code to predict molecular abundances, and then post-processed this cube with a radiative transfer code to create synthetic emission maps for a series of rotational transitions observed during the GEMS project. Results. From the kinematical point of view, we find that the relative alignment between the observer and the mean magnetic field direction affect the observed line profiles, obtaining larger line widths for the case when the line of sight is perpendicular to the magnetic field. These differences might be detectable even after convolution with the IRAM 30 m efficiency for a nearby molecular cloud. From the chemical point of view, we find that turbulence produces variations for the predicted abundances, but they are more or less critical depending on the chosen transition and the chemical age. When compared to real observations, the results from the turbulent simulation provides a better fit than when assuming a uniform gas distribution along the line of sight. Conclusions. In the view of our results, we conclude that taking into account turbulence when fitting observations might significantly improve the agreement with model predictions. This is especially important for sulfur bearing species which are very sensitive to the variations of density produced by turbulence at early times (0.1 Myr). The abundance of CO is also quite sensitive to turbulence when considering the evolution beyond a few 0.1 Myr.

On the Magnetic Field Properties of Protostellar Envelopes in Orion

We present 870 μm polarimetric observations toward 61 protostars in the Orion molecular clouds with ∼400 au (1″) resolution using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We successfully detect dust polarization and outflow emission in 56 protostars; in 16 of them the polarization is likely produced by self-scattering. Self-scattering signatures are seen in several Class 0 sources, suggesting that grain growth appears to be significant in disks at earlier protostellar phases. For the rest of the protostars, the dust polarization traces the magnetic field, whose morphology can be approximately classified into three categories: standard-hourglass, rotated-hourglass (with its axis perpendicular to outflow), and spiral-like morphology. A total of 40.0% (±3.0%) of the protostars exhibit a mean magnetic field direction approximately perpendicular to the outflow on several × 102–103 au scales. However, in the remaining sample, this relative orientation appears to be random, probably due to the complex set of morphologies observed. Furthermore, we classify the protostars into three types based on the C17O (3–2) velocity envelope’s gradient: perpendicular to outflow, nonperpendicular to outflow, and unresolved gradient (≲1.0 km s−1 arcsec−1). In protostars with a velocity gradient perpendicular to outflow, the magnetic field lines are preferentially perpendicular to outflow, with most of them exhibiting a rotated hourglass morphology, suggesting that the magnetic field has been overwhelmed by gravity and angular momentum. Spiral-like magnetic fields are associated with envelopes having large velocity gradients, indicating that the rotation motions are strong enough to twist the field lines. All of the protostars with a standard-hourglass field morphology show no significant velocity gradient due to the strong magnetic braking.

Transition to Equilibrium and Coherent Structure in Ideal MHD Turbulence, Part 2

We continue our study of the transition of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence from non-equilibrium initial conditions to equilibrium using long-time numerical simulations on a 1283 periodic grid. A Fourier spectral transform method is used to numerically integrate the dynamical equations forward in time. The six runs that previously went to near equilibrium are here extended into equilibrium. As before, we neglect dissipation as we are primarily concerned with behavior at the largest scale where this behavior has been shown to be essentially the same for ideal and real (forced and dissipative) MHD turbulence. These six runs have various combinations of imposed rotation and mean magnetic field and represent the five cases of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, and MHD turbulence: Case I (Run 1), with no rotation or mean field; Case II (Runs 2a and 2b), where only rotation is imposed; Case III (Run 3), which has only a mean magnetic field; Case IV (Run 4), where rotation vector and mean magnetic field direction are aligned; and Case V (Run 5), which has non-aligned rotation vector and mean field directions. Statistical mechanics predicts that dynamic Fourier coefficients are zero-mean random variables, but largest-scale coherent magnetic structures emerge and manifest themselves as Fourier coefficients with very large, quasi-steady, mean values compared to their standard deviations, i.e., there is ‘broken ergodicity.’ These magnetic coherent structures appeared in all cases during transition to near equilibrium. Here, we report that, as the runs were continued, these coherent structures remained quasi-steady and energetic only in Cases I and II, while Case IV maintained its coherent structure but at comparatively low energy. The coherent structures that appeared in transition in Cases III and V were seen to collapse as their associated runs extended into equilibrium. The creation of largest-scale, coherent magnetic structure appears to be a dynamo process inherent in ideal MHD turbulence, particularly in Cases I and II, i.e., those cases most pertinent to planets and stars. Furthermore, the statistical theory of ideal MHD turbulence has proven to apply at the largest scale, even when dissipation and forcing are included. This, along with the discovery and explanation of dynamically broken ergodicity, is essentially a solution to the ‘dynamo problem’.

Transition to Equilibrium and Coherent Structure in Ideal MHD Turbulence

Transition of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence to near-equilibrium from non-equilibrium initial conditions is examined through new long-time numerical simulations on a 1283 periodic grid. Here, we neglect dissipation because we are primarily concerned with behavior at the largest scale which has been shown to be essentially the same for ideal and real (forced and dissipative) MHD turbulence. A Fourier spectral transform method is used to numerically integrate the dynamical equations forward in time and results from six computer runs are presented with various combinations of imposed rotation and mean magnetic field. There are five separate cases of ideal, homogeneous, incompressible, MHD turbulence: Case I, with no rotation or mean field; Case II, where only rotation is imposed; Case III, which has only a mean magnetic field; Case IV, where rotation vector and mean magnetic field direction are aligned; and Case V, which has nonaligned rotation vector and mean field directions. Dynamic coefficients are predicted by statistical mechanics to be zero-mean random variables, but largest-scale coherent magnetic structures emerge in all cases during transition; this implies dynamo action is inherent in ideal MHD turbulence. These coherent structures are expected to occur in Cases I, II and IV, but not in Cases III and V; future studies will determine whether they persist.

MHD Turbulent Power Anisotropy in the Inner Heliosphere

We study anisotropic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the slow solar wind measured by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Solar Orbiter (SolO) during its first orbit from the perspective of variance anisotropy and correlation anisotropy. We use the Belcher & Davis approach (M1) and a new method (M2) that decomposes a fluctuating vector into parallel and perpendicular fluctuating vectors. M1 and M2 calculate the transverse and parallel turbulence components relative to the mean magnetic field direction. The parallel turbulence component is regarded as compressible turbulence, and the transverse turbulence component as incompressible turbulence, which can be either Alfvénic or 2D. The transverse turbulence energy is calculated from M1 and M2, and the transverse correlation length from M2. We obtain the 2D and slab turbulence energy and the corresponding correlation lengths from those transverse turbulence components that satisfy an angle between the mean solar wind flow speed and mean magnetic field θ UB of either (i) 65° < θ UB < 115° or (ii) 0° < θ UB < 25° (155° < θ UB < 180°), respectively. We find that the 2D turbulence component is not typically observed by PSP near perihelion, but the 2D component dominates turbulence in the inner heliosphere. We compare the detailed theoretical results of a nearly incompressible MHD turbulence transport model with the observed results of PSP and SolO measurements, finding good agreement between them.

First look at the multiphase interstellar medium using synthetic observations from low-frequency Faraday tomography

Faraday tomography of radio polarimetric data below 200 MHz from the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) has been providing new perspectives on the diffuse and magnetized interstellar medium (ISM). One aspect of particular interest is the unexpected discovery of Faraday-rotated synchrotron polarization associated with structures of neutral gas, as traced by atomic hydrogen (HI) and dust. Here, we present the first in-depth numerical study of these LOFAR results. We produced and analyzed comprehensive synthetic observations of low-frequency synchrotron polarization from magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of colliding super shells in the multiphase ISM from the literature. Using an analytical approach to derive the ionization state of the multiphase gas, we defined five distinct gas phases over more than four orders of magnitude in gas temperature and density, ranging from hot, and warm fully ionized gas to a cold neutral medium. We focused on establishing the contribution of each gas phase to synthetic observations of both rotation measure and synchrotron polarized intensity below 200 MHz. We also investigated the link between the latter and synthetic observations of optically thin HI gas. We find that it is not only the fully ionized gas, but also the warm partially ionized and neutral phases that strongly contribute to the total rotation measure and polarized intensity. However, the contribution of each phase to the observables strongly depends on the choice of the integration axis and the orientation of the mean magnetic field with respect to the shell collision axis. A strong correlation between the HI synthetic data and synchrotron polarized intensity, reminiscent of the LOFAR results, is obtained with lines of sight perpendicular to the mean magnetic field direction. Our study suggests that multiphase modeling of MHD processes is needed in order to interpret observations of the radio sky at low frequencies. This work is a first step toward understanding the complexity of low-frequency synchrotron emission that will be soon revolutionized thanks to large-scale surveys with LOFAR and the Square Kilometre Array.

Evolution of Large-amplitude Alfvén Waves and Generation of Switchbacks in the Expanding Solar Wind

Abstract Motivated by recent Parker Solar Probe (PSP) observations of “switchbacks” (abrupt, large-amplitude reversals in the radial magnetic field, which exhibit Alfvénic correlations), we examine the dynamics of large-amplitude Alfvén waves in the expanding solar wind. We develop an analytic model that makes several predictions: switchbacks should preferentially occur in regions where the solar wind plasma has undergone a greater expansion, the switchback fraction at radii comparable to PSP should be an increasing function of radius, and switchbacks should have their gradients preferentially perpendicular to the mean magnetic field direction. The expansion of the plasma generates small compressive components as part of the wave’s nonlinear evolution: these are maximized when the normalized fluctuation amplitude is comparable to sin θ , where θ is the angle between the propagation direction and the mean magnetic field. These compressive components steepen the primary Alfvénic waveform, keeping the solution in a state of nearly constant magnetic field strength as its normalized amplitude δB/B grows due to expansion. The small fluctuations in the magnetic field strength are minimized at a particular θ-dependent value of β, usually of order unity, and the density and magnetic-field-strength fluctuations can be correlated or anticorrelated depending on β and θ. Example solutions of our dynamical equation are presented; some do indeed form magnetic-field reversals. Our predictions appear to match some previously unexplained phenomena in observations and numerical simulations, providing evidence that the observed switchbacks result from the nonlinear evolution of the initially small-amplitude Alfvén waves already known to be present at the coronal base.

JCMT POL-2 and BISTRO Survey Observations of Magnetic Fields in the L1689 Molecular Cloud

Abstract We present 850 μm polarization observations of the L1689 molecular cloud, part of the nearby Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex, taken with the POL-2 polarimeter on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). We observe three regions of L1689: the clump L1689N which houses the IRAS 16293-2433 protostellar system, the starless clump SMM-16, and the starless core L1689B. We use the Davis–Chandrasekhar–Fermi method to estimate plane-of-sky field strengths of 366 ± 55 μG in L1689N, 284 ± 34 μG in SMM-16, and 72 ± 33 μG in L1689B, for our fiducial value of dust opacity. These values indicate that all three regions are likely to be magnetically transcritical with sub-Alfvénic turbulence. In all three regions, the inferred mean magnetic field direction is approximately perpendicular to the local filament direction identified in Herschel Space Telescope observations. The core-scale field morphologies for L1689N and L1689B are consistent with the cloud-scale field morphology measured by the Planck Space Observatory, suggesting that material can flow freely from large to small scales for these sources. Based on these magnetic field measurements, we posit that accretion from the cloud onto L1689N and L1689B may be magnetically regulated. However, in SMM-16, the clump-scale field is nearly perpendicular to the field seen on cloud scales by Planck, suggesting that it may be unable to efficiently accrete further material from its surroundings.

Synchrotron Intensity and Polarization Gradients: Tools to Obtain the Magnetization Level in a Turbulent Medium

Abstract Synchrotron intensity and polarization gradients (SIG and SPG), proposed by Lazarian et al. and Lazarian &amp; Yuen, present a new way to recover the mean magnetic field direction in the plane of the sky. To measure the magnetization level, Lazarian et al. suggested that the methods used in the context of the “Velocity Gradient Technique” could also be used on the SIG and SPG contexts. In this work we test the two proposed methods, named “top-base” and the circular standard deviation, “S,” to obtain the level of magnetization from synchrotron emission. In order to test the methods, we generate synthetic observations from magnetohydrodynamic computer simulations, with Alfvénic Mach numbers, M A ∈ [0.2,1.7]. Using a Bayesian analysis we find that the circular standard deviations for the SIG and SPG methods are able to recover the magnetization for cases with signal-to-noise ratio ≳5. We found that for weak Faraday depolarization and different angles between the magnetic field direction and the line of sight the magnetization level can still be estimated.

Understanding the Multiwavelength Observation of Geminga's Tev Halo: The Role of Anisotropic Diffusion of Particles.

In this Letter, we propose that the x-ray and the TeV observations in the vicinity of Geminga can be understood in the framework of anisotropic diffusion of injected electrons or positrons. This interpretation only requires the turbulence in the vicinity of Geminga to be sub-Alfvénic with the local mean magnetic field direction approximately aligned with our line of sight towards Geminga, without invoking extreme conditions for the environment, such as an extremely small diffusion coefficient and a weak magnetic field of submicrogauss as suggested in previous literature.

Anisotropy of the Spectral Index in Ion Scale Compressible Turbulence: MMS Observations in the Magnetosheath

Turbulence in the Earth’s magnetosheath at ion kinetic scales is investigated with the Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) spacecraft. The multi-point measurements allow the three dimensional power spectra in wave-vector space to be determined. Previously the three dimensional structure of fluctuations in the magnetic field and density (using spacecraft potential as a proxy) were possible with Cluster. However, using the excellent time resolution data set provided from both the Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM) and the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) on MMS the spectra can be determined for a number of different parameters such as ion velocity, and ion temperatures parallel and perpencidular to the mean magnetic field directions. The spectra for different fluctuations show similar features to one another such as a strong power anisotropy with respect to the mean magnetic field direction, such that the energy decays faster in the direction parallel to the mean magnetic field than the perpendicular direction. A weak non-gyrotropy is also seen in the direction of the bulk velocity similar to what has been seen in magnetic field fluctuations with Cluster at ion kinetic scales in the solar wind. Velocity fluctuations are shown to be the most anisotropic. The density and temperature fluctuations exhibit similar anisotropies but are much weaker in comparison.

3D Feature of Self-correlation Level Contours at 1010 cm Scale in Solar Wind Turbulence

Abstract The self-correlation level contours at 1010 cm scale reveal a 2D isotropic feature in both the slow solar wind fluctuations and the fast solar wind fluctuations. However, this 2D isotropic feature is obtained based on the assumption of axisymmetry with respect to the mean magnetic field. Whether the self-correlation level contours are still 3D isotropic remains unknown. Here we perform for the first time a 3D self-correlation level contours analysis on the solar wind turbulence. We construct a 3D coordinate system based on the mean magnetic field direction and the maximum fluctuation direction identified by the minimum-variance analysis method. We use data with 1 hr intervals observed by WIND spacecraft from 2005 to 2018. We find, on one hand, in the slow solar wind, the self-correlation level contour surfaces for both the magnetic field and the velocity field are almost spherical, which indicates a 3D isotropic feature. On the other hand, there is a weak elongation in one of the perpendicular directions in the fast solar wind fluctuations. The 3D feature of the self-correlation level contours surfaces cannot be explained by the existing theory.

Anisotropic Structure of Synchrotron Polarization

Abstract Since polarized synchrotron intensity arising from magnetized turbulence is anisotropic along the direction of mean magnetic field, it can be used to trace the direction of the mean magnetic field. In this paper, we provide a statistical description of anisotropy of polarized synchrotron intensity. We use a second-order structure function and a new statistics, quadrupole moment (QM), at different wavelengths. The second-order structure function visualizes anisotropy of polarized intensity (PI) along the direction of mean magnetic field. Using QM, we quantify the degree of anisotropy displayed in the structure function. Since Faraday rotation, which depends on wavelength, can change the structure of PI and result in depolarization, we study how the anisotropic structure changes with wavelength. First, we consider polarized synchrotron emission arising from one spatial region, in which synchrotron emission and Faraday rotation occur simultaneously. Second, we also consider polarized synchrotron emission from two spatially separated regions. When the wavelength is very small, the observed polarization exhibits the averaged structures of both foreground and background regions. As the wavelength increases and Faraday rotation becomes important, depolarization wipes out large-scale structures, while small-scale anisotropy begins to reflect that of the foreground region, where the depolarization effect has relatively weak influence.

Characteristics of Plasma Cavities That Appeared in the Intensity Dropout Event of Solar Energetic Particles

Abstract In order to explore the origin of the particle “dropout” phenomenon in the “gradual” solar energetic particle (SEP) event, we have selected 13 dropout intervals from 10 gradual SEP events during solar cycle 23. Our selection criterion is that within the dropout interval the average slab turbulence fraction is &gt;0.8 in the ion dissipation range. In the plasma “cavity” that appeared in the dropout interval we have observed the angles of the wavenumber vector and the solar wind velocity vector relative to the mean magnetic field direction to be ∼0° and ∼90°, respectively. The distinctive feature of the cavity geometry could inhibit the occurrence of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs), leaving the dominance of magnetosonic-whistler waves in its plasma environment. Therefore, by examining the difference of turbulence characteristics between the dropout interval and the ambient solar wind, we are able to differentiate between the effects of KAWs and quasi-parallel whistler waves. Observations of the plasma β dependence of magnetic power density spectra in the ion dissipation range indicate that in the cavity of low plasma β (≤1) and low magnetic variance anisotropy (∼3) the turbulence cascade of the magnetosonic-whistler wave branch has reached a sufficiently developed stage.

Angular Independence of Break Position for Magnetic Power Spectral Density in Solar Wind Turbulence

Abstract The break in power spectral density (PSD) around the ion scales indicates the onset of dissipation and/or dispersion of kinetic turbulence. For Alfvén waves in the kinetic regime, the dissipation and dispersion are individually dependent on the propagation angle, θ kB, which has θ RB (the angle between radial direction and local mean magnetic field direction) as a proxy in solar wind measurements. The relation between θ RB and the break position helps us find the role of dissipation and/or dispersion for deforming the PSD profile. In order to locate the spectral break position automatically and quantitatively, we develop a dual-power-law fitting method to fit the PSD profiles in both MHD and kinetic ranges simultaneously. The break position f b is found to change little with θ RB, suggesting an angular independence of the spectral break. Furthermore, f b in our statistical study of fast solar wind near 1 au is consistent with a wavenumber k satisfying k(ρ p + d p) ∼ 1 (ρ p is the thermal proton gyroradius and d p is the proton inertial length), independently of θ RB. To interpret this independence, we incorporate the effects of both dissipation and dispersion in a unified description, which is the breakdown of the magnetic frozen-in condition in wavenumber space (k ∥, k ⊥). The breakdown of the frozen-in condition is relatively isotropic compared to the strong anisotropy of dispersion and dissipation. Furthermore, the spatial scale for the onset of the breakdown frozen-in condition is estimated to be the sum of ρ p and d p.

Probing the magnetic fields in L1415 and L1389

We present the R-band polarimetric results towards two nebulae L1415 and L1389 containing low luminosity stars. Aim of this study is to understand the role played by magnetic fields in formation of low luminosity objects. Linear polarization arise due to dichroism of the background starlight projected on the cloud providing the plane-of-the sky magnetic field orientation. The offsets between mean magnetic field directions obtained towards L1415 and L1389 and the projected outflow axes are found to be 35$^{\circ}$ and 12$^{\circ}$, respectively. The offset between cloud minor axes and mean envelope magnetic field direction in L1415 and L1389 are 50$^{\circ}$ and 87$^{\circ}$, respectively. To estimate the magnetic field strength by using the updated Chandrasekhar-Fermi relation, we obtained the $^{12}$CO(J=1-0) line velocity dispersion value towards L1415 cloud using the TRAO single dish observations. The values of B$_{pos}$ in L1415 and L1389 are found to be 28$~\mu$G and 149$~\mu$G using CF technique and 23$~\mu$G and 140$~\mu$G using structure function analysis, respectively. The values of B$_{pos}$ in these clouds are found to be consistent using both the techniques. By combining the present results with those obtained from our previous study of magnetic fields in cores with VeLLOs, we attempt to improve the sample of cores with low luminosity protostars and bridge the gap between the understanding of importance of magnetic fields in cores with VeLLOs and low luminosity protostars. The Results of this work and that of our previous work show that the outflow directions are aligned with envelope magnetic fields of the clouds.

Characteristics of quasi‐monochromatic ULF waves in the Venusian foreshock

AbstractThe statistical properties of ULF waves observed upstream of Venus foreshock are investigated. The study is restricted to waves which are observed well below the local proton cyclotron frequency. Using the magnetic field observations from Venus Express between May 2006 and February 2012, 115 quasi‐monochromatic ULF wave trains have been identified. Statistical results show that the wave periods are mainly from 20 to 30 s in the spacecraft frame, which is about 2–3 times of the local proton cyclotron period. The transverse power dominates the power spectrum, and most of the waves display nearly circular or slightly elliptical polarization in the spacecraft frame. Moreover, these ULF waves mainly have small relative amplitudes with respect to the ambient field magnitude B0 for parallel component (δB||/B0 less than 0.3), while the range of relative amplitudes for perpendicular component δB⊥/B0 is from ~0.1 to ~1.0. Wave propagation angles are mainly less than 30° with respect to the mean magnetic field direction. The obtained results are very similar to the wave properties seen for ULF waves present in the terrestrial foreshock, which suggests that backstreaming ions in the Venusian foreshock form an important energy source for the generation of the waves.

VARIANCE ANISOTROPY IN KINETIC PLASMAS

ABSTRACT Solar wind fluctuations admit well-documented anisotropies of the variance matrix, or polarization, related to the mean magnetic field direction. Typically, one finds a ratio of perpendicular variance to parallel variance of the order of 9:1 for the magnetic field. Here we study the question of whether a kinetic plasma spontaneously generates and sustains parallel variances when initiated with only perpendicular variance. We find that parallel variance grows and saturates at about 5% of the perpendicular variance in a few nonlinear times irrespective of the Reynolds number. For sufficiently large systems (Reynolds numbers) the variance approaches values consistent with the solar wind observations.

THE SPECTRAL FEATURES OF LOW-AMPLITUDE MAGNETIC FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SOLAR WIND AND THEIR COMPARISON WITH MODERATE-AMPLITUDE FLUCTUATIONS

The power-spectrum index of magnetic fluctuations is a crucial parameter for the characterization of nonlinear interactions affecting the solar wind turbulence. Most previous observations were made for large- and moderate-amplitude magnetic fluctuations, which include current sheets and intermittent structures. Here, by using measurements from the WIND spacecraft, we present magnetic spectral features as derived by the fast Fourier transform method from six-minute time series of magnetic fluctuations with low relative amplitudes () of only 0.05–0.11. When comparing their spectra with those of moderate-amplitude fluctuations (), we find that for the low-amplitude fluctuations the averaged magnetic spectral indices are and , respectively, for small and large sampling angles, i.e., the angle between the Sun-to-Earth radial direction and the mean magnetic field direction. However, for the moderate-amplitude fluctuations, these two indices are and , respectively. This result of the moderate-amplitude fluctuations is consistent with that of previous analyses, which, by using the wavelet technique, revealed spectral anisotropy of magnetic fluctuations and yielded an index of in the parallel direction and in the perpendicular direction. However, the result found here for the low-amplitude fluctuations has not been reported before, and thus will probably initiate new studies aiming to better understand the turbulent nature of such low-amplitude fluctuations. Future studies will help us to understand why the spectral anisotropy differs for fluctuations of different amplitudes.