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Plasma Turbulence at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Rosetta Observations
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Plasma Turbulence at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Rosetta Observations

S. Ruhunusiri, G. G. Howes and J. S. Halekas
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.125(9), e2020JA028100
09/2020
DOI: 10.1029/2020JA028100
PMCID: PMC8350962
PMID: 34381663
url
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028100View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We perform a power spectral analysis of magnetic field fluctuations measured by the Rosetta spacecraft's magnetometer at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We interpret the power spectral signatures in terms of plasma turbulent processes and discover that different turbulent processes are prominent during different active phases of the comet. During the weakly active phase of the comet, dominant injection is prominent at low frequencies near 10(-2) Hz, while partial energy cascade or dispersion is prominent at high frequencies near 10(-1) Hz. During the intermediately active phase, uniform injection is prominent at low frequencies, while partial energy cascade or dispersion is prominent at high frequencies. During the strongly active phase of the comet, we find that partial energy cascade or dissipation is dominant at low frequencies, while partial energy cascade, dissipation, or dispersion is dominant at high frequencies. We infer that the temporal variations of the turbulent processes occur due to the evolution of the plasma environment of the comet as it orbits the Sun.
 Physical Sciences Astronomy & Astrophysics Science & Technology

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