Magnetic, Kinetic, and Transition regime: Spatially-segregated structure of compressive MHD turbulence
Turbulence is a complex physical process that emerges in multiple areas of modern physics, and in ionized environments such as interstellar gas, the magnetic field can be dynamically important. However, the exact function of the magnetic field in the ionized gas remains unclear. We use the $M_{\rm A...
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Zusammenfassung: | Turbulence is a complex physical process that emerges in multiple areas of
modern physics, and in ionized environments such as interstellar gas, the
magnetic field can be dynamically important. However, the exact function of the
magnetic field in the ionized gas remains unclear. We use the $M_{\rm A} =
\sqrt{E_{\rm k}/E_B}
$ to describe the importance of the magnetic field measured to the turbulent
motion, and reveal diverse ways of mutual interaction. At low $M_{\rm A}$
(magnetic regime), the magnetic field is well-described as force-free. Despite
the strong magnetic field, the motion of gas does not stay aligned with the
magnetic field. At the regime of intermediate $M_{\rm A}$ (magnetic-kinetic
transition regime), the velocity field and the magnetic field exhibit the
highest degree of alignment, which is likely the result of a rapid relaxation.
At high $M_{\rm A}$ (kinetic regime), both the magnetic field and the velocity
field are irregular, with no alignment. We find observational counterparts to
these regimes in observations of interstellar gas. The results highlight the
diverse behavior of gas in MHD turbulence and guide future interpretations of
the role of the magnetic field in astrophysical observations. |
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DOI: | 10.48550/arxiv.2409.02769 |