IKT-approach to MHD turbulence

TL;DR

This paper introduces an inverse kinetic theory approach for deriving exact evolution equations of probability densities in incompressible, resistive MHD turbulence, advancing the theoretical understanding of turbulent magnetofluids.

Contribution

It presents a first-principles statistical model that accurately reproduces the full set of MHD equations for turbulence analysis.

Findings

Derivation of an exact evolution equation for probability densities in MHD turbulence

Application of the model to statistically homogeneous and stationary turbulence

Provides a rigorous theoretical framework for MHD turbulence analysis

Abstract

An open issue in turbulence theory is related to the determination of the exact evolution equation for the probability density associated to the relevant (stochastic) fluid fields. Such an equation in the usual approaches to turbulence reproduces, at most in an approximate sense, the correct fluid equations. In this paper we present a statistical model which applies to an incompressible, resistive and quasi-neutral magnetofluid. The approach is based on the formulation of an inverse kinetic theory (IKT) for the full set of MHD equations appropriate for an incompressible, viscous, quasi-neutral, isentropic, isothermal and resistive magnetofluid. Basic feature of the new approach is that it relies on first principles - including in particular the exact validity of the fluid equations - and thus permits the determination of the correct evolution equation for the probability density. Specific application of the theory here considered concerns the case of statistically homogeneous and stationary MHD turbulence.