Abstract
Using direct numerical simulation results we discuss how the presence of a dc magnetic field (B0) in initially isotropic turbulent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows leads to anisotropy in the small-scale velocity and magnetic fields. In such cases, the small-scale vorticity and current structures tend to elongate and align with B0.
The incompressible behaviour is also compared to weakly compressible results (sonic Mach number <0.5). The simulations indicate that while density and longitudinal pressure fluctuations remain isotropic for the compressible systems, the v and b fluctuations behave quite similarly to their incompressible counterparts, exhibiting substantial anisotropies even at the modest Reynolds numbers employed here.
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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Oughton, S., Matthaeus, W.H., Ghosh, S. (1995). Anisotropy in incompressible and compressible 3D MHD turbulence. In: Meneguzzi, M., Pouquet, A., Sulem, PL. (eds) Small-Scale Structures in Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic and Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 462. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0102424
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0102424
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