Dynamic alignment and plasmoid formation in relativistic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

TL;DR

This paper uses high-resolution simulations to study relativistic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, revealing the formation of current sheets, plasmoid chains, and different energy spectra depending on guide-field strength.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the dynamics of relativistic MHD turbulence, including plasmoid formation and spectral behaviors under varying guide-field conditions.

Findings

Formation of large-scale current sheets and plasmoid chains.

Spectral index of -3/2 for strong guide-field turbulence.

Spectral index of -5/3 for weak guide-field turbulence.

Abstract

We present high resolution 2D and 3D simulations of magnetized decaying turbulence in relativistic resistive magneto-hydrodynamics. The simulations show dynamic formation of large scale intermittent long-lived current sheets being disrupted by the tearing instability into plasmoid chains. These current sheets are locations of enhanced magnetic field dissipation and heating of the plasma. We find magnetic energy spectra $\propto k^{-3/2}$, together with strongly pronounced dynamic alignment of Elsasser fields and of velocity and magnetic fields, for strong guide-field turbulence, whereas we retrieve spectra $\propto k^{-5/3}$ for the case of a weak guide-field.