Nonaxisymmetric Anisotropy of Solar Wind Turbulence as a Direct Test for the Models of Magnetohydrodynamic Tubulence

TL;DR

This study uses spacecraft observations of solar wind turbulence to test different models of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, finding that the 'Slab + 2D' model aligns well with data while the Goldreich-Sridhar model does not.

Contribution

First application of nonaxisymmetric anisotropy measurements to directly test MHD turbulence models using solar wind data.

Findings

Goldreich-Sridhar model is inconsistent with observations.

'Slab + 2D' model reproduces observed anisotropy.

Additional components are needed in models to match data.

Abstract

Single point spacecraft observations of the turbulent solar wind flow exhibit a characteristic nonaxisymmetric anisotropy that depends sensitively on the perpendicular power spectral exponent. For the first time we use this nonaxisymmetric anisotropy as a function of wave vector direction to test models of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. Using Ulysses magnetic field observations in the fast, quiet polar solar wind we find that the Goldreich-Sridhar model of MHD turbulence is not consistent with the observed anisotropy, whereas the observations are well reproduced by the "Slab + 2D" model. The Golderich-Sridhar model alone can not account for the observations unless an additional component is also present.