Intermittent turbulent fluctuations in solar coronal mass ejections

Abstract

Localised regions of high intensity fluctuations are known to be signatures of intermittency in fluid and plasma turbulence. We investigate such turbulent spots using near-Earth {\em in-situ} spacecraft observations of a sample of 125 solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We present statistical results which suggest that the intensity of the strongest turbulent spot and the turbulent spot occurrence rate are reliable indicators of the onset of the leading part of the CME event. Our findings also suggest that turbulent spots can be sites of enhanced proton heating. The findings of this study can enhance our understanding of intermittence in collisionless plasma turbulence and can improve CME/sheath-driven space weather impact prediction models.