1307.2615 (H. Che et al.)

Bi-Directional Energy Cascades and the Origin of Kinetic Alfvénic and Whistler Turbulence in the Solar Wind    [PDF]

H. Che, M. L. Goldstein, A. F. Viñas

The observed sub-proton scale turbulence spectrum in the solar wind raises the question of how that turbulence originates. Observations of keV energetic electrons during solar quite-time suggest them as possible source of free energy to drive the turbulence. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we explore how free energy in energetic electrons, released by an electron two-stream instability drives Weibel-like electromagnetic waves that excite wave-wave interactions. Consequently, both kinetic Alfv\'enic and whistler waves are excited that evolve through inverse and forward magnetic energy cascades.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1307.2615