Vorticity, Shocks and Magnetic Fields in Subsonic, ICM-like Turbulence

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution MHD simulations to explore how different forcing mechanisms influence turbulence, shocks, and magnetic field amplification in galaxy cluster-like environments, revealing the complex interplay between these factors.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how solenoidal and compressive forcing differently affect shock formation, vorticity, and magnetic field growth in subsonic turbulence.

Findings

Magnetic fields near saturation can enhance small-scale vorticity.

Compressively forced turbulence produces stronger shocks but slower vorticity and magnetic amplification.

A simple relation estimates shock strength based on Mach number and forcing type.

Abstract

We analyze high resolution simulations of compressible, MHD turbulence with properties resembling conditions in galaxy clusters. The flow is driven to turbulence Mach number $\mathcal{M}_t \sim 1/2$ in an isothermal medium with an initially very weak, uniform seed magnetic field ($\beta = P_g/P_B = 10^6$). Since cluster turbulence is likely to result from a mix of sheared (solenoidal) and compressive forcing processes, we examine the distinct turbulence properties for both cases. In one set of simulations velocity forcing is entirely solenoidal ($\nabla\cdot \delta {\vec u} = 0$), while in the other it is entirely compressive ($\nabla\times \delta {\vec u} = 0$). Both cases develop a mixture of solenoidal and compressive turbulent motions, since each generates the other. The development of compressive turbulent motions leads to shocks, even when the turbulence is solenoidally forced and subsonic. Shocks, in turn, produce and amplify vorticity, which is especially important in compressively forced turbulence. To clarify those processes we include a pair of appendices that look in detail at vorticity evolution in association with shocks. From our simulation analyses we find that magnetic fields amplified to near saturation levels in predominantly solenoidal turbulence can actually enhance vorticity on small scales by concentrating and stabilizing shear. The properties, evolution rates and relative contributions of the kinetic and magnetic turbulent elements depend strongly on the character of the forcing. Specifically, shocks are stronger, but vorticity evolution and magnetic field amplification are slower and weaker when the turbulence is compressively forced. We identify a simple relation to estimate characteristic shock strengths in terms of the turbulence Mach number and the character of the forcing. Our results will be helpful in understanding flow motions in galaxy clusters.