Weak Alfvénic cascade ($E_{\perp }(k_{\perp })\sim (ϵv_A/l_{\parallel }{)}^{1/2}{k}_{\perp }^{-2}$)

For balanced anisotropic Alfvénic turbulence, suppose ${\tau }_A=l_{\parallel }/v_A\ll {\tau }_{\mathrm{nl}}=l_{\perp }/\delta z$ and resonant interactions preserve the parallel scale during the perpendicular cascade. Random encounter accumulation gives ${\tau }_{\mathrm{cas}}=v_A{l}_{\perp }^2/(\delta z^2{l}_{\parallel })$. Constant energy flux then gives $\delta z\propto l_{\perp }^{1/2}$ and the displayed perpendicular turbulent energy spectrum. Unlike isotropic phenomenology, the fixed parallel scale is independent of the decreasing perpendicular scale.

In a weak Alfvénic cascade at fixed $l_{\parallel }$, $\chi ={\tau }_A/{\tau }_{\mathrm{nl}}\propto l_{\perp }^{-1/2}$ grows as the perpendicular scale shrinks. If its outer value is ${\chi }_0\ll 1$ at $L_{\perp }$, it reaches order one at the displayed scale. Beyond it the weak-interaction ordering fails and a critical balance model may become appropriate.