Suppression of Temperature Fluctuations and Energy Barrier Generation by Velocity Shear

Abstract

First measurements of temperature fluctuations in a region of high velocity shear show that absolute and normalized fluctuation levels are reduced across the shear layer, a result that is consistent with weak parallel electron thermal conduction in the electron temperature dynamics. The concomitant reduction of temperature, density, and electric field fluctuations reduces the anomalous conducted and convected heat fluxes.