L. Sorriso-valvo et al., Non-Gaussian probability distribution functions in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, EUROPH LETT, 51(5), 2000, pp. 520-526
Intermittency in MHD turbulence has been analyzed using high-resolution 2D
numerical simulations. We show that the Probability Distribution Functions
(PDFs) of the fluctuations of the Elsasser fields, magnetic field and veloc
ity field depend on the scale at hand, that is they are self-affine. The de
parture of the PDFs from a Gaussian function can be described through the s
caling behavior of a single parameter lambda(r)(2) obtained by fitting the
PDFs with a given curve stemming from the analysis of a multiplicative mode
l by Castaing et al. (Physica D, 46 (1990) 177). The scaling behavior of th
e parameter lambda(r)(2) can be used to extract information about the inter
mittency. A comparison of intermittency properties in different MHD turbule
nt flows is also performed.