Diagnostics for Comparing Turbulence in Solar Wind Observations and Numerical Simulations

Abstract:

A variety of distinct numerical simulations will be performed under the auspices of the Turbulence Dissipation Challenge.
In order to extract maximal scientific insight, a number of neutral diagnostics will be employed as a means of
comparing these simulations to one another, and eventually to solar wind measurements.
These diagnostics will mainly focus on analyzing synthetic time series,
single point data sets collected along trajectories in the simulation domain, and are broken up into three classes.
The first class of metrics is of general applicability to turbulence observations, the second focuses on statistical properties of the medium,
and the third uses characteristics of the linear plasma response.
These metrics will allow for an exploration of what physical mechanisms are properly captured by the simulations included in the Turbulence
Dissipation Challenge. Eventually, comparisons using these metrics between simulations and solar wind observations will help in determining
the nature of the mechanisms underlying the dissipation of turbulence in the solar wind.