Fundamental investigations of compressible MHD turbulence

磁流体湍流(MHD)是等离子体基础物理中一个尚未解决的关键问题。尽管不可压缩MHD湍流理论已经取得了重大进展，但对具有重要物理应用价值的可压缩MHD湍流的研究却少之又少。这项研究将导致等离子体中弱可压缩MHD湍流的全面理论，在等离子体中，与磁能密度相比，气压较低。这一理论将提供包括动力学效应在内的分析和数值结果，以研究无碰撞尺度上的耗散，并确定粒子之间的湍流加热分布。这一结果对于理解湍流在加速太阳耀斑中的粒子和加热日冕中所起的作用至关重要。该项目将通过各种培训和外联活动产生更广泛的影响，包括研究生和本科生，特别努力招募女性和其他代表性不足的群体。介绍等离子体物理的基本原理和重要应用的介绍性介绍，针对中学水平，将有助于增加对科学的理解，并激发学生对科学职业的兴趣。

AST-0613622ChandranMagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is a critical unsolved problem in basic plasma physics. Although major progress has been made in the theory of incompressible MHD turbulence, much less is known about compressible MHD turbulence, which is of great importance for physical applications. This research will lead to a comprehensive theory of weak compressible MHD turbulence in plasmas where the pressure is low compared to the magnetic energy density. This theory will provide analytic and numerical results including kinetic effects, to investigate dissipation at collisionless scales and to determine the distribution of turbulent heating between particle species. The results will be crucial for understanding the role that turbulence plays in accelerating particles in solar flares and in heating the solar corona.The project will achieve a broader impact through a variety of training and outreach activities, including graduate and undergraduate students with a special effort to recruit women and other under-represented groups. An introductory presentation describing elementary principles and important applications of plasma physics, aimed at the secondary school level, will help to increase understanding of science and to stimulate student interest in science careers.