Evaluation of Magnetic Helicity in Homogeneous Turbulence

W. H. Matthaeus, M. L. Goldstein and C. W. Smith

Physical Review Letters, 48, 1256-1259 (1982).

Abstract:

A technique for the measurement of magnetic helicity from values of the two point magnetic field correlation matrix under the assumption of spatial homogeneity is presented. Knowledge of a single scalar function of space, derivable from the correlation matrix, suffices to determine the magnetic helicity. The technique is illustrated by reporting the first measurement of the magnetic helicity of the solar wind.