Complexity in space plasmas

Tom Chang; Sunny W.Y. Tam; Cheng chin Wu

doi:10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0

Complexity in space plasmas

Tom Chang, Sunny W.Y. Tam, Cheng chin Wu

Institute of Space and Plasma Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

This chapter describes the phenomenon of complexity related to intermittent turbulence in space plasmas. Such phenomenon is analogous to the classical avalanching process of sand piles. When coherent structures of opposite polarities approach each other because of the force of the surrounding plasma, they might repel each other, scatter, or induce magnetically quiescent localized regions. The description is based on the stochastic interactions of the multitude of coherent structures of varied sizes that arise naturally from plasma resonances because of nonlinear interactions. The chapter introduces the concept of topological magnetic reconfigurations because of coarse-graining dissipation-induced nonlinear instabilities. Such magnetic reconfiguration can take place even for conserved non-dissipative plasma systems and can provide a physical explanation of the magnetic reconnection processes for non-dissipative plasma media.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Multiscale Coupling of Sun-Earth Processes
Publisher	Elsevier
Pages	3-7
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Print)	9780444518811
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0
Publication status	Published - 2005 Dec 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

Access to Document

10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Complexity in space plasmas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@inbook{59592171d107491b81812fe200397057,

title = "Complexity in space plasmas",

abstract = "This chapter describes the phenomenon of complexity related to intermittent turbulence in space plasmas. Such phenomenon is analogous to the classical avalanching process of sand piles. When coherent structures of opposite polarities approach each other because of the force of the surrounding plasma, they might repel each other, scatter, or induce magnetically quiescent localized regions. The description is based on the stochastic interactions of the multitude of coherent structures of varied sizes that arise naturally from plasma resonances because of nonlinear interactions. The chapter introduces the concept of topological magnetic reconfigurations because of coarse-graining dissipation-induced nonlinear instabilities. Such magnetic reconfiguration can take place even for conserved non-dissipative plasma systems and can provide a physical explanation of the magnetic reconnection processes for non-dissipative plasma media.",

author = "Tom Chang and Tam, {Sunny W.Y.} and Wu, {Cheng chin}",

year = "2005",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780444518811",

pages = "3--7",

booktitle = "Multiscale Coupling of Sun-Earth Processes",

publisher = "Elsevier",

address = "Netherlands",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - Complexity in space plasmas

AU - Chang, Tom

AU - Tam, Sunny W.Y.

AU - Wu, Cheng chin

PY - 2005/12/1

Y1 - 2005/12/1

N2 - This chapter describes the phenomenon of complexity related to intermittent turbulence in space plasmas. Such phenomenon is analogous to the classical avalanching process of sand piles. When coherent structures of opposite polarities approach each other because of the force of the surrounding plasma, they might repel each other, scatter, or induce magnetically quiescent localized regions. The description is based on the stochastic interactions of the multitude of coherent structures of varied sizes that arise naturally from plasma resonances because of nonlinear interactions. The chapter introduces the concept of topological magnetic reconfigurations because of coarse-graining dissipation-induced nonlinear instabilities. Such magnetic reconfiguration can take place even for conserved non-dissipative plasma systems and can provide a physical explanation of the magnetic reconnection processes for non-dissipative plasma media.

AB - This chapter describes the phenomenon of complexity related to intermittent turbulence in space plasmas. Such phenomenon is analogous to the classical avalanching process of sand piles. When coherent structures of opposite polarities approach each other because of the force of the surrounding plasma, they might repel each other, scatter, or induce magnetically quiescent localized regions. The description is based on the stochastic interactions of the multitude of coherent structures of varied sizes that arise naturally from plasma resonances because of nonlinear interactions. The chapter introduces the concept of topological magnetic reconfigurations because of coarse-graining dissipation-induced nonlinear instabilities. Such magnetic reconfiguration can take place even for conserved non-dissipative plasma systems and can provide a physical explanation of the magnetic reconnection processes for non-dissipative plasma media.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84882520477&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84882520477&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0

DO - 10.1016/B978-044451881-1/50001-0

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:84882520477

SN - 9780444518811

SP - 3

EP - 7

BT - Multiscale Coupling of Sun-Earth Processes

PB - Elsevier

ER -