Spacecraft observations of solar wind turbulence: an overview. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 47

Spacecraft measurements in the solar wind offer the opportunity to study magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in a collisionless plasma in great detail. We review some of the key results of the study of this medium: the presence of large amplitude Alfvén waves propagating predominantly away from the Sun; the existence of an active turbulent cascade; and the presence of intermittency similar to that in neutral fluids. We also discuss the presence of anisotropy in wavevector space relative to the local magnetic field direction. Some models suggest that MHD turbulence can evolve to a state with power predominantly in wavevectors either parallel to the magnetic field (“slab ” fluctuations) or approximately perpendicular to it (“2D”). We review the existing evidence for such anisotropy, which has important consequences for the transport of energetic particles. Finally, we present the first results of a new analysis which provides the most accurate measurements to date of the wave-vector anisotropy of wavevector power in solar wind MHD turbulence. PACS codes: 52.35.Ra Plasma turbulence; 96.50.Ci Solar wind plasma; 96.50.Ry Waves and discontinuities