Dominant two-dimensional solar wind turbulence with implications for cosmic ray transport
Abstract
Two new methods for distinguishing two-dimensional (2D) turbulence from slab turbulence are applied to Helios magnetometer data. Two-component models with varying slab and 2D ingredients are considered. Both methods indicate that solar wind magnetic turbulence possesses a dominant (~85% by energy) 2D component. The presence of such a large 2D component provides a natural solution to the long-standing problem of ``too small'' cosmic ray mean free paths derived from quasilinear scattering theory when using the slab model.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- February 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1029/95JA02588
- Bibcode:
- 1996JGR...101.2511B
- Keywords:
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- Interplanetary Physics: Cosmic rays;
- Interplanetary Physics: MHD waves and turbulence;
- Interplanetary Physics: Interplanetary magnetic fields;
- Interplanetary Physics: Energetic particles;
- solar