Diagnosis of 3D magnetic field and mode composition in MHD turbulence with Y-parameter

ABSTRACT Magnetic fields are crucial in numerous astrophysical processes within the interstellar medium (ISM). However, the detailed determination of magnetic field geometry is notoriously challenging. Based on the modern magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence theory, we introduce a novel statistical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2023-10, Vol.524 (4), p.6102-6113
Main Authors: Malik, Sunil, Yuen, Ka Ho, Yan, Huirong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
general –interstellar medium – techniques: Astrophysical Plasma turbulence
ISM: general
magnetic fields
MHD
polarization
radio continuum: general
Stokes parameters
Synchrotron radiation
turbulence
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Summary:ABSTRACT Magnetic fields are crucial in numerous astrophysical processes within the interstellar medium (ISM). However, the detailed determination of magnetic field geometry is notoriously challenging. Based on the modern magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence theory, we introduce a novel statistical technique, the ‘Y-parameter’, to decipher the magnetic field inclination in the ISM and identify dominant turbulence modes. The Y-parameter, calculated as the ratio of anisotropies of different Stokes parameter combinations, displays contrasting trends with the mean-field inclination angle in Alfvénic and compressible turbulence modes. A Y-parameter value around 1.5 ± 0.5 provide a statistical boundary to determine the dominant MHD turbulence modes. We have discovered specific correlations between the Y-parameter value and the inclination angle that unveil the dominant turbulence mode. This methodology, when applied to future radio polarization surveys such as LOFAR and SKA, promises to significantly enhance our knowledge of 3D magnetic field in the ISM and improve our understanding of interstellar turbulence.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stad2225