A tensor invariant approach to energy flux in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Fuente:
arXiv
Gespeichert in:
| Hauptverfasser: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2026
|
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| _version_ | 1866910138038747136 |
|---|---|
| author | Liptrott, Conan M. Chapman, Sandra C. Hnat, Bogdan Watkins, Nicholas W. |
| author_facet | Liptrott, Conan M. Chapman, Sandra C. Hnat, Bogdan Watkins, Nicholas W. |
| contents | A scale-by-scale analysis of energy flux in the turbulent cascade can be performed using the spatially filtered magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, while the gradient tensor invariants are widely used to characterise the structure of velocity and magnetic fields. Physical mechanisms responsible for energy flux require specific field configurations whose strength is quantified by these tensor invariants. We explore this requirement, showing that the tensor invariants act as proxies for mechanistic energy fluxes under quantifiable conditions. As a special case, the purely hydrodynamic contributions to energy flux can be expressed exactly in terms of the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor. We also show that the invariants bound the available energy flux for distinct physical mechanisms, formalising the idea that each transfer mechanism requires field configurations with gradients of sufficient strength to support a given energy flux. Results are illustrated using 3D simulations of freely decaying MHD turbulence. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_14426 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A tensor invariant approach to energy flux in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence Liptrott, Conan M. Chapman, Sandra C. Hnat, Bogdan Watkins, Nicholas W. Plasma Physics Fluid Dynamics A scale-by-scale analysis of energy flux in the turbulent cascade can be performed using the spatially filtered magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, while the gradient tensor invariants are widely used to characterise the structure of velocity and magnetic fields. Physical mechanisms responsible for energy flux require specific field configurations whose strength is quantified by these tensor invariants. We explore this requirement, showing that the tensor invariants act as proxies for mechanistic energy fluxes under quantifiable conditions. As a special case, the purely hydrodynamic contributions to energy flux can be expressed exactly in terms of the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor. We also show that the invariants bound the available energy flux for distinct physical mechanisms, formalising the idea that each transfer mechanism requires field configurations with gradients of sufficient strength to support a given energy flux. Results are illustrated using 3D simulations of freely decaying MHD turbulence. |
| title | A tensor invariant approach to energy flux in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence |
| topic | Plasma Physics Fluid Dynamics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.14426 |