Depletion of nonlinearity in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence: Insights from analysis and simulations.

It is shown how suitably scaled, order-m moments, D_{m}^{±}, of the Elsässer vorticity fields in three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) can be used to identify three possible regimes for solutions of the MHD equations with magnetic Prandtl number P_{M}=1. These vorticity fields are defined by ω^{±}=curlz^{±}=ω±j, where z^{±} are Elsässer variables, and where ω and j are, respectively, the fluid vorticity and current density. This study follows recent developments in the study of three-dimensional Navier-Stokes fluid turbulence [Gibbon et al., Nonlinearity 27, 2605 (2014)NONLE50951-771510.1088/0951-7715/27/10/2605]. Our mathematical results are then compared with those from a variety of direct numerical simulations, which demonstrate that all solutions that have been investigated remain in only one of these regimes which has depleted nonlinearity. The exponents q^{±} that characterize the inertial range power-law dependencies of the z^{±} energy spectra, E^{±}(k), are then examined, and bounds are obtained. Comments are also made on  (a) the generalization of our results to the case P_{M}≠1 and (b) the relation between D_{m}^{±} and the order-m moments of gradients of magnetohydrodynamic fields, which are used to characterize intermittency in turbulent flows.

Forced magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in three dimensions using Taylor-Green symmetries.

We examine the scaling laws of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence for three different types of forcing functions and imposing at all times the fourfold symmetries of the Taylor-Green (TG) vortex generalized to MHD; no uniform magnetic field is present and the magnetic Prandtl number is equal to unity. We also include pumping in the induction equation, and we take the three configurations studied in the decaying case in Lee et al. [Phys. Rev. E 81, 016318 (2010)]. To that effect, we employ direct numerical simulations up to an equivalent resolution of 20483 grid points. We find that, similarly to the case when the forcing is absent, different spectral indices for the total energy spectrum emerge, corresponding to either a Kolmogorov law, an Iroshnikov-Kraichnan law that arises from the interactions of turbulent eddies and Alfvén waves, or to weak turbulence when the large-scale magnetic field is strong. We also examine the inertial range dynamics in terms of the ratios of kinetic to magnetic energy, and of the turnover time to the Alfvén time, and analyze the temporal variations of these quasiequilibria.

Ideal evolution of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence when imposing Taylor-Green symmetries.

We investigate the ideal and incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in three space dimensions for the development of potentially singular structures. The methodology consists in implementing the fourfold symmetries of the Taylor-Green vortex generalized to MHD, leading to substantial computer time and memory savings at a given resolution; we also use a regridding method that allows for lower-resolution runs at early times, with no loss of spectral accuracy. One magnetic configuration is examined at an equivalent resolution of 6144(3) points and three different configurations on grids of 4096(3) points. At the highest resolution, two different current and vorticity sheet systems are found to collide, producing two successive accelerations in the development of small scales. At the latest time, a convergence of magnetic field lines to the location of maximum current is probably leading locally to a strong bending and directional variability of such lines. A novel analytical method, based on sharp analysis inequalities, is used to assess the validity of the finite-time singularity scenario. This method allows one to rule out spurious singularities by evaluating the rate at which the logarithmic decrement of the analyticity-strip method goes to zero. The result is that the finite-time singularity scenario cannot be ruled out, and the singularity time could be somewhere between t=2.33 and t=2.70. More robust conclusions will require higher resolution runs and grid-point interpolation measurements of maximum current and vorticity.

Cascades, thermalization, and eddy viscosity in helical Galerkin truncated Euler flows.

The dynamics of the truncated Euler equations with helical initial conditions are studied. Transient energy and helicity cascades leading to Kraichnan helical absolute equilibrium at small scales, including a linear scaling of the relative helicity spectrum are obtained. Strong helicity effects are found using initial data concentrated at high wave numbers. Using low-wave-number initial conditions, the results of Cichowlas et.al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 264502 (2005)] are extended to helical flows. Similarities between the turbulent transient evolution of the ideal (time-reversible) system and viscous helical flows are found. Using an argument in the manner of Frisch et. al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 144501 (2008)], the excess of relative helicity found at small scales in the viscous run is related to the thermalization of the ideal flow. The observed differences in the behavior of truncated Euler and (constant viscosity) Navier-Stokes are qualitatively understood using the concept of eddy viscosity. The large scales of truncated Euler equations are then shown to follow quantitatively an effective Navier-Stokes dynamics based on a variable (scale dependent) eddy viscosity.