Dynamical Systems Approach to Plasma Turbulence

Professor Abraham Chian
National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil and
World Institute for Space Environment Research (WISER)

Plasmas in laboratory and cosmos are dominated by waves, instabilities and
turbulence. Recent advances in dynamical systems research offer new powerful
mathematical and computational tools to understand the origin and nature of
plasma dynamics such as Alfven turbulence. First, we discuss some observational
evidence of nonlinear Alfven waves and Alfven intermittent turbulence in
space plasmas and their relevance in the solar-terrestrial coupling. Next, we
show how to apply the dynamical system approach to model Alfven chaos, in both
spatial (low-dimensional) and spatiotemporal (high-dimensional) models of 
nonlinear Alfven waves. We will elucidate the role of unstable structures such 
as unstable periodic orbits and chaotic transients (chaotic saddles) in
intermittency in plasmas.
We will take this opportunity to introduce research and training
activities being developed by the network WISER - World Institute for Space 
Environment Research, at the end of this colloquium.