SHINE: Turbulence and Plasma Heating in the Solar Wind

首席调查员(PI)计划在离子拉莫半径的尺度上对太阳风湍流进行磁流体动力学(MHD)模拟，其中流体描述不太适用，而等离子体动力学效应是重要的。这个模型对于研究湍流涨落中的能量如何转化为热是必要的。这些对MHD湍流的动力学模拟将提供对湍流如何引起各种太阳物理量的波动的定量预测，这些物理量包括磁场、电场、等离子体密度和粒子分布函数。PI打算将他的模拟结果与太阳风的现场测量结果进行比较。他还将通过MHD湍流级联中的小尺度波动来研究太阳风等离子体的加热，并将量化他所模拟的等离子体加热与太阳风观测的一致程度。该项目将极大地促进对太阳风中的湍流涨落与由这种湍流产生的太阳风等离子体的加热和加速之间复杂联系的理解。研究生和博士后培训将是该项目的重要组成部分。国际和平研究所还将定期提供公开演讲，将这项研究的结果纳入其中，并将科学过程传达给更广泛的受众。

The Principal Investigator (PI) plans to perform Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling of solar wind turbulence on scales of the ion Larmor radius, where a fluid description is less applicable and plasma kinetic effects are important. This modeling is necessary for investigating how energy in turbulent fluctuations is converted into heat. These kinetic simulations of MHD turbulence will provide quantitative predictions of how turbulence induces fluctuations in a variety of heliophysical quantities, including the magnetic field, the electric field, the plasma density, and the particle distribution function. The PI intends to compare his simulation output with in situ measurements in the solar wind. He will also study the heating of solar wind plasma through small-scale fluctuations in an MHD turbulent cascade, and will quantify the extent to which his modeled plasma heating is consistent with observations of the solar wind. This project will significantly advance the understanding of the complex connection between the turbulent fluctuations in the solar wind and the heating and acceleration of solar wind plasma by such turbulence.Graduate student and postdoctoral training will be an important part of this project. The PI will also provide public talks on a regular basis that will incorporate the results of this research and convey the scientific process to a broader audience.