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1. Length and Velocity Scales in Protoplanetary Disk Turbulence

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2c89  

   Sengupta, Debanjan; Cuzzi, Jeffrey N; Umurhan, Orkan M; Lyra, Wladimir (April 2024, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract In the theory of protoplanetary disk turbulence, a widely adopted ansatz, or assumption, is that the turnover frequency of the largest turbulent eddy, Ω_L, is the local Keplerian frequency Ω_K. In terms of the standard dimensionless Shakura–Sunyaevαparameter that quantifies turbulent viscosity or diffusivity, this assumption leads to characteristic length and velocity scales given respectively by $\sqrt{\alpha }H$and $\sqrt{\alpha }c$, in whichHandcare the local gas scale height and sound speed. However, this assumption is not applicable in cases when turbulence is forced numerically or driven by some natural processes such as vertical shear instability. Here, we explore the more general case where Ω_L≥ Ω_Kand show that, under these conditions, the characteristic length and velocity scales are respectively $\sqrt{\alpha /R\prime }H$and $\sqrt{\alpha R\prime }c$, where $R\prime \equiv {\mathrm{\Omega }}_L/{\mathrm{\Omega }}_K$is twice the Rossby number. It follows that $\alpha =\tilde{\alpha }/R\prime$, where $\sqrt{\tilde{\alpha }}c$is the root-mean-square average of the turbulent velocities. Properly allowing for this effect naturally explains the reduced particle scale heights produced in shearing box simulations of particles in forced turbulence, and it may help with interpreting recent edge-on disk observations; more general implications for observations are also presented. For $R\prime >1$, the effective particle Stokes numbers are increased, which has implications for particle collision dynamics and growth, as well as for planetesimal formation. 

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2. The EDGE-CALIFA Survey: Spatially Resolved ¹³ CO(1–0) Observations and Variations in ¹² CO(1–0)/ ¹³ CO(1–0) in Nearby Galaxies on Kiloparsec Scales

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/acd840  

   Cao, Yixian; Wong, Tony; Bolatto, Alberto D.; Leroy, Adam K.; Rosolowsky, Erik; Utomo, Dyas; Sánchez, Sebastián F.; Barrera-Ballesteros, Jorge K.; Levy, Rebecca C.; Colombo, Dario; et al (August 2023, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series)

   Abstract We present¹³CO(J= 1 → 0) observations for the EDGE-CALIFA survey, which is a mapping survey of 126 nearby galaxies at a typical spatial resolution of 1.5 kpc. Using detected¹²CO emission as a prior, we detect¹³CO in 41 galaxies via integrated line flux over the entire galaxy and in 30 galaxies via integrated line intensity in resolved synthesized beams. Incorporating our CO observations and optical IFU spectroscopy, we perform a systematic comparison between the line ratio ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}\equiv I{[}^{12}\mathrm{CO}(J=1\to 0)\left]/I{[}^{13}\mathrm{CO}\right(J=1\to 0\left)\right]$and the properties of the stars and ionized gas. Higher ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$values are found in interacting galaxies compared to those in noninteracting galaxies. The global ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$slightly increases with infrared colorF₆₀/F₁₀₀but appears insensitive to other host-galaxy properties such as morphology, stellar mass, or galaxy size. We also present azimuthally averaged ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$profiles for our sample up to a galactocentric radius of 0.4r₂₅(∼6 kpc), taking into account the¹³CO nondetections by spectral stacking. The radial profiles of ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$are quite flat across our sample. Within galactocentric distances of 0.2r₂₅, the azimuthally averaged ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$increases with the star formation rate. However, Spearman rank correlation tests show the azimuthally averaged ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$does not strongly correlate with any other gas or stellar properties in general, especially beyond 0.2r₂₅from the galaxy centers. Our findings suggest that in the complex environments in galaxy disks, ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$is not a sensitive tracer for ISM properties. Dynamical disturbances, like galaxy interactions or the presence of a bar, also have an overall impact on ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$, which further complicates the interpretations of ${\mathit{}}_{12/13}$variations. 

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3. Deciphering the sensitivity of urban canopy air temperature to anthropogenic heat flux with a forcing-feedback framework

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ace7e0  

   Wang, Linying; Sun, Ting; Zhou, Wenyu; Liu, Maofeng; Li, Dan (August 2023, Environmental Research Letters)

   Abstract The sensitivity of urban canopy air temperature ( $T_a$) to anthropogenic heat flux ( $Q_{AH}$) is known to vary with space and time, but the key factors controlling such spatiotemporal variabilities remain elusive. To quantify the contributions of different physical processes to the magnitude and variability of $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$(where $\mathrm{\Delta }$represents a change), we develop a forcing-feedback framework based on the energy budget of air within the urban canopy layer and apply it to diagnosing $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$simulated by the Community Land Model Urban over the contiguous United States (CONUS). In summer, the median $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$is around 0.01 $\text{K\hspace{0.17em}}{\left(\text{W\hspace{0.17em}}{\text{m}}^{-\text{2}}\right)}^{-1}$over the CONUS. Besides the direct effect of $Q_{AH}$on $T_a$, there are important feedbacks through changes in the surface temperature, the atmosphere–canopy air heat conductance ( $c_a$), and the surface–canopy air heat conductance. The positive and negative feedbacks nearly cancel each other out and $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$is mostly controlled by the direct effect in summer. In winter, $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$becomes stronger, with the median value increased by about 20% due to weakened negative feedback associated with $c_a$. The spatial and temporal (both seasonal and diurnal) variability of $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a/\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$as well as the nonlinear response of $\mathrm{\Delta }{T}_a$to $\mathrm{\Delta }{Q}_{AH}$are strongly related to the variability of $c_a$, highlighting the importance of correctly parameterizing convective heat transfer in urban canopy models. 

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4. Efficient modeling of electron kinetics under influence of externally applied electric field in magnetized weakly ionized plasma

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/acdaf1  

   Janalizadeh, Reza; Pervez, Zaid; Pasko, Victor P. (July 2023, Plasma Sources Science and Technology)

   Abstract We present a theory based on the conventional two-term (i.e. Lorentzian) approximation to the exact solution of the Boltzmann equation in non-magnetized weakly ionized plasma to efficiently obtain the electron rate and transport coefficients in a magnetized plasma for an arbitrary magnitude and direction of applied electric field $\vec{E}$and magnetic field $\vec{B}$. The proposed transcendental method does not require the two-term solution of the Boltzmann equation in magnetized plasma, based on which the transport parameters vary as a function of the reduced electric field $E/N$, reduced electron cyclotron frequency ${\omega }_{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{e}}/N$, and angle $\mathrm{\angle }\vec{E},\vec{B}$between $\vec{E}$and $\vec{B}$vectors, whereNis the density of neutrals. Comparisons between the coefficients derived from BOLSIG+’s solution (obtained via the two-term expansion when $\vec{B}\ne 0$) and coefficients of the presented method are illustrated for air, a mixture of molecular hydrogen (H₂) and helium (He) representing the giant gas planets of the Solar System, and pure carbon dioxide (CO₂). The new approach may be used in the modeling of magnetized plasma encountered in the context of transient luminous events, e.g. sprite streamers in the atmosphere of Earth and Jupiter, in modeling the propagation of lightning’s electromagnetic pulses in Earth’s ionosphere, and in various laboratory and industrial applications of nonthermal plasmas. 

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5. Evolution of the Interplanetary Turbulence and the Associated Turbulence Anisotropy in the Outer Heliosphere: VOYAGER 2 Observations

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2eae  

   Zhu, Xingyu; He, Jiansen; Zank, Gary P; Verscharen, Daniel; Zhao, Ling-Ling; Duan, Die; Lin, Rong (April 2024, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We study the radial evolution of the inertial-range solar wind plasma turbulence and its anisotropy in the outer heliosphere. We use magnetic field (B) measurements from the Voyager 2 spacecraft for heliocentric distancesRfrom 1 to 33 au. We find that the perpendicular and trace power spectral densities (PSDs) of the magnetic field ( $E_{{\mathrm{B}}_{\perp }}$and $E_{{\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{Tr}}}$) still follow a Kolmogorov-like spectrum until 33 au. The parallel magnetic field PSD, $E_{B_{\parallel }}$, transits from a power-law index of −2 to −5/3 as the distance crossesR∼ 10 au. The PSD at frequencies 0.01 Hz <f< 0.2 Hz flattens atR> 20 au, gradually approaching anf⁻¹spectrum, probably due to instrument noise. At 0.002 Hz <f< 0.1 Hz, quasi-parallel propagation dominates at 1 au <R< 7 au, with quasi-perpendicular propagation gradually emerging atR> 5 au. ForR> 7 au, oblique propagation becomes the primary mode of propagation. At smaller frequencies off< 0.01 Hz, $E_{{\mathrm{B}}_{\perp }}$increases with propagation angle at 1 au <R< 5 au, and in contrast decreases with propagation angle atR> 5 au due to the enhanced power level at propagation angles smaller than 20°. Such enhancement may derive from the injection of wave energy from the pickup ion source into the background turbulent cascade, and the injected wave energy is transferred across scales without leaving local enhancements in $E_{{\mathrm{B}}_{\perp }}$or $E_{{\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{Tr}}}$. 

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