Evaluation of Scale-dependent Kurtosis with HelioSwarm

Francesco Pecora, Francesco Pucci, Francesco Malara, Kristopher G. Klein, Maria Federica Marcucci, Alessandro Retinò, William Matthaeus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Plasma turbulence involves complex, nonlinear interactions of electromagnetic fields and charged particles across multiple scales. Studying these phenomena in space plasmas, like the solar wind, is facilitated by the intrinsic scale separations and the availability of in situ spacecraft observations. However, the single-point or single-scale configurations of current spacecraft limit our understanding of many properties of the turbulent solar wind. To overcome these limitations, multipoint measurements spanning a range of characteristic scales are essential. This Letter prepares for the enhanced measurement capabilities of upcoming multispacecraft missions by demonstrating that higher-order statistics, specifically kurtosis, as a baseline for intermittency can be accurately measured. Using synthetic turbulent fields with adjustable intermittency levels, we achieve scale separations analogous to those in the solar wind and apply these techniques to the planned trajectories of the HelioSwarm mission. This approach promises significant advancements in our understanding of plasma turbulence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL36
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume970
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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