Establish a rigorous theoretical basis for intermittency in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Establish a rigorous theoretical framework that explains intermittency in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, demonstrating the fundamental principles and conditions under which intermittency arises and is maintained, analogous to or distinct from hydrodynamic turbulence, given that such a theoretical basis remains unproven.

Background

Intermittency—characterized by nonuniform, bursty dissipation and non-Gaussian statistics—is a central feature of both hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. Empirical and simulation evidence links intermittency in MHD to structures such as current sheets and reconnection sites, but a rigorous theoretical foundation remains lacking.

A formal theory would unify phenomenological models and observations, clarify scaling relations, and support quantitative predictions across fluid and plasma environments, including the solar wind.