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American Astronomical Society, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2(789), p. L44, 2014

DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/789/2/l44

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Relaxation Processes in Solar Wind Turbulence

Journal article published in 2014 by S. Servidio, C. Gurgiolo, V. Carbone ORCID, M. L. Goldstein ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Based on global conservation principles, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) relaxation theory predicts the existence of several equilibria, such as the Taylor state or global dynamic alignment. These states are generally viewed as very long-time and large-scale equilibria, which emerge only after the termination of the turbulent cascade. As suggested by hydrodynamics and by recent MHD numerical simulations, relaxation processes can occur during the turbulent cascade that will manifest themselves as local patches of equilibrium-like configurations. Using multi-spacecraft analysis techniques in conjunction with Cluster data, we compute the current density and flow vorticity and for the first time demonstrate that these localized relaxation events are observed in the solar wind. Such events have important consequences for the statistics of plasma turbulence.