MHD-kinetic transition in imbalanced Alfv\'enic turbulence

TL;DR

This paper reveals a new ion-scale dynamical range in imbalanced Alfvénic turbulence driven by co-propagating wave collisions, leading to steep spectra that depend on the imbalance, with implications for solar wind observations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ion-scale dynamical range caused by co-collisions among waves propagating in the same direction, contrasting with traditional views of counter-collision dominance.

Findings

Co-collisions dominate over counter-collisions at ion scales.

Spectral indexes vary around -3, steepening with imbalance.

Intermittency further steepens the spectra to -3.7.

Abstract

Alfv\'enic turbulence in space is usually imbalanced: amplitudes of waves propagating parallel and anti-parallel to the mean magnetic field $B_0$ are unequal. It is commonly accepted that the turbulence is driven by (counter-)collisions between these counter-propagating wave fractions. Contrary to this, we found a new ion-scale dynamical range of the turbulence established by (co-)collisions among waves co-propagating in the same direction along $B_0$. Co-collisions become stronger than counter-collisions and produce steep non-universal spectra above certain wavenumbers dependent on the imbalance. Spectral indexes of the strong turbulence vary around -3, such that steeper spectra follow larger imbalances. Intermittency steepens the -3 spectra further, up to -3.7. Our theoretical predictions are compatible with steep variable spectra observed in the solar wind at ion kinetic scales, but further verifications are needed by correlating observed spectra with measured imbalances.