Unappreciated cross-helicity effects in plasma physics: anti-diffusion effects in dynamo and momentum transport

Abstract The cross-helicity (velocity–magnetic-field correlation) effects in the magnetic-field induction and momentum transport in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence are investigated with the aid of the multiple-scale renormalized perturbation expansion analysis, which is a theoretical framework for strongly non-linear and inhomogeneous turbulence. The outline of the theory is presented with reference to the role of the cross-interaction response functions between the velocity and magnetic field. In this formulation, the expressions of the turbulent fluxes: the turbulent electromotive force (EMF) in the mean induction equation and the Reynolds and turbulent Maxwell stresses in the momentum equation are obtained. Related to the expression of EMF, the physical origin of the cross-helicity effect in dynamos, as well as other dynamo effects, is discussed. Properties of dynamo and momentum transport are determined by the spatiotemporal distribution of turbulence. To understand the actual role of the turbulent cross helicity, its transport equations is considered. Several generation mechanisms of cross helicity are discussed with illustrative examples. On the basis of the cross-helicity production mechanisms, its effect in stellar dynamos is discussed. The role of cross helicity in the momentum transport and global flow generation is also argued. One of the situations where the cross-helicity effects both in magnetic-field induction and global flow generation play an important role is the turbulent magnetic reconnection. Characteristic features of turbulence effects in fast reconnection are reviewed with special emphasis on the role of cross helicity in localizing the effective resistivity. Finally, a remark is addressed on an approach that elucidates the structure generation and sustainment in extremely strong turbulence. An appropriate formulation for the anti-diffusion effect, which acts against the usual diffusion effect, is needed. Turbulence modeling approach based on such an analytical formulation is also argued in comparison with the conventional heuristic modeling. The importance of the self-consistent framework treating the non-linear interaction between the mean field and turbulence is stressed as well.