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Resistive Instabilities in a Two-Dimensional MHD Turbulent Flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

H. Politano
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Nice CNRS, BP 139 06003 Nice Cedex, France
P. L. Sulem
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Nice CNRS, BP 139 06003 Nice Cedex, France School of Mathematical Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israël
A. Pouquet
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Nice CNRS, BP 139 06003 Nice Cedex, France HAO, National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, Colorado 80307 USA

Extract

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Direct numerical simulations of decaying two-dimensional incompressible MHD flows at Reynolds numbers of several thousands are reported here, using resolutions of 10242 collocation points on a uniform grid. Spatial derivation is performed using Fourier decomposition, assuming periodic boundary conditions, and nonlinear terms are computed in configuration space. The time-stepping scheme is semi-implicit, Crank–Nicolson and third-order Runge–Kutta. The magnetic Prandtl number is equal to unity in all runs. Both deterministic and random initial conditions are used, concentrated in the large scales, with quasi–equipartition between kinetic and magnetic energy. The dynamic range in amplitude of the fields is 107, ensuring well–resolved current and vorticity sheets, over roughly 20 grid points. This leaves sufficient space for tearing instabilities to develop, embedded in a turbulent flow.

Type
6. Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds, Dark Globules and in the Pre-Stellar and Circumstellar Environment
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1990 

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