Thermo-mechanic invariant in anisotropic plasma with heat fluxes

TL;DR

This paper explores a new class of invariant perturbations in anisotropic plasmas with heat fluxes, revealing a thermo-mechanic mode that influences turbulence and flow dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the thermo-mechanic invariant mode in anisotropic plasmas with heat fluxes, expanding understanding beyond the CGL approximation.

Findings

Identification of a new thermo-mechanic mode involving heat fluxes.

Potential formation of filamentary structures in plasma perturbations.

Implications for turbulence energy transfer and large-scale plasma behavior.

Abstract

We investigate linear perturbations in an incompressible, weakly collisional, anisotropic plasma, taking heat fluxes into account. Our analysis identifies a new class of time-invariant perturbations that encompass heat flux variations and aperiodic longitudinal perturbations in the magnetic field and flow velocity. Under the Chew-Goldberger-Low (CGL) approximation, which neglects low-frequency heat flux effects, these perturbations are purely thermal and decoupled from magnetic and velocity fields. When heat fluxes are included, these perturbations gain kinematic and magnetic components, leading to the identification of a ``thermo-mechanic mode.'' The nature of aperiodic linear modes suggests that they may reach higher amplitudes in perturbation structures, that can be revealed as filamentary formations. We discuss the potential implications of these filaments on the large-scale dynamics of flows and on the nonlinear energy balance within small-scale MHD turbulence. Our findings indicate that thermo-mechanic invariant may play a significant role in modulating turbulence energy transfer dynamics, potentially impacting both local and global flow behavior in weakly collisional anisotropic plasmas.