The Influence of a Mean Magnetic Field on Three-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence

Sean Oughton, Eric R. Priest, William H. Matthaeus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Building on results from two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence (Shebalin, Matthaeus & Montgomery 1983), the development of anisotropic states from initially isotropic ones is investigated numerically for fully three-dimensional incompressible MHD turbulence. It is found that when an external d.c. magnetic field (B0) is imposed on viscous and resistive MHD systems, excitations are preferentially transferred to modes with wavevectors perpendicular to B0. The anisotropy increases with increasing mechanical and magnetic Reynolds numbers, and also with increasing wavenumber. The tendency of B0to inhibit development of turbulence is also examined.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95-117
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume280
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1994

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