Energy partition in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

We use a simple and straightforward method to derive the energy partition in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) turbulence that was first studied by Lee and then more rigorously by Chandrasekhar. By investigating the energy equation, we find that the turbulent viscous and ohmic dissipations are comparable to each other. Under the condition that turbulent viscosity and turbulent magnetic diffusivity are comparable, we deduce that the ratio of kinetic to magnetic energies depends on the ratio of the turbulent magnetic length scale to turbulent velocity length scale of the largest eddies. When the two largest length scales are comparable, the two energies are in equipartition.

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Publication Details

Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
Published
2025-07-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2025.0200
Primary Topic
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Type
article
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article

Energy partition in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Xing Wei
Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
article

Energy partition in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Xing Wei
article en

Abstract

We use a simple and straightforward method to derive the energy partition in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) turbulence that was first studied by Lee and then more rigorously by Chandrasekhar. By investigating the energy equation, we find that the turbulent viscous and ohmic dissipations are comparable to each other. Under the condition that turbulent viscosity and turbulent magnetic diffusivity are comparable, we deduce that the ratio of kinetic to magnetic energies depends on the ratio of the turbulent magnetic length scale to turbulent velocity length scale of the largest eddies. When the two largest length scales are comparable, the two energies are in equipartition.

Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering SciencesVol. 481(2317)
Beijing Normal University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 90%
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
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