Premium
Nonlinear Alfven waves in inhomogeneous plasmas
Author(s) -
Buti B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/91gl00854
Subject(s) - physics , plasma , nonlinear system , alfvén wave , acceleration , astrophysical plasma , computational physics , kinetic energy , wave propagation , space (punctuation) , classical mechanics , quantum electrodynamics , magnetohydrodynamics , quantum mechanics , linguistics , philosophy
Nonlinear Alfvén waves, in inhomogeneous plasmas, are shown to be governed by the MDNLS (Modified Derivative Nonlinear Schrödinger) equation. The inhomogeneity leads to acceleration (deceleration) of the Alfvén solitons depending upon plasma β (kinetic pressure/magnetic pressure) and on density gradients vis‐a‐vis direction of wave propagation. Potential applications, of the model, to space and astrophysical plasmas are pointed out.