Fitting analytical forms of spatial and temporal correlation functions to spacecraft data

Abstract

Spacecraft missions such as Wind and ACE can be used to determine magnetic correlation functions in the solar wind. From such data sets one can obtain spatial and temporal correlations of magnetic fields. Such correlations are fundamental in the theory of magnetic turbulence and are important to describe the statistics of magnetic field lines and the propagation of energetic particles such as cosmic rays. In the present article we compare analytical forms of correlation functions with measurements performed in the solar system. We obtain new values for the correlations length scales and we test our understanding of the turbulence dynamics. © 2012 Author(s).