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Title: Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures

Abstract

This work presents non-linear interaction of magnetosonic wave with kinetic Alfvén wave for intermediate β-plasma (m{sub e}/m{sub i}≪β≪1). A set of dimensionless equations have been developed for analysis by considering ponderomotive force due to pump kinetic Alfvén wave in the dynamics of magnetosonic wave. Stability analysis has been done to study modulational instability or linear growth rate. Further, numerical simulation has been carried out to study the nonlinear stage of instability and resulting power spectrum applicable to solar wind around 1 AU. Due to the nonlinearity, background density of magnetosonic wave gets modified which results in localization of kinetic Alfvén wave. From the obtained results, we observed that spectral index follows k{sup −3.0}, consistent with observation received by Cluster spacecraft for the solar wind around 1 AU. The result shows the steepening of power spectrum which may be responsible for heating and acceleration of plasma particles in solar wind.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016 (India)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22227892
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 20; Journal Issue: 8; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ALFVEN WAVES; ASTROPHYSICS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; MAGNETOACOUSTIC WAVES; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; PLASMA DENSITY; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA SIMULATION; PLASMA WAVES; PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE; SOLAR WIND; TURBULENCE

Citation Formats

Sharma, R. P., Modi, K. V., and Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College Valsad, Gujarat 396001. Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4818506.
Sharma, R. P., Modi, K. V., & Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College Valsad, Gujarat 396001. Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818506
Sharma, R. P., Modi, K. V., and Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College Valsad, Gujarat 396001. 2013. "Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818506.
@article{osti_22227892,
title = {Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures},
author = {Sharma, R. P. and Modi, K. V. and Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College Valsad, Gujarat 396001},
abstractNote = {This work presents non-linear interaction of magnetosonic wave with kinetic Alfvén wave for intermediate β-plasma (m{sub e}/m{sub i}≪β≪1). A set of dimensionless equations have been developed for analysis by considering ponderomotive force due to pump kinetic Alfvén wave in the dynamics of magnetosonic wave. Stability analysis has been done to study modulational instability or linear growth rate. Further, numerical simulation has been carried out to study the nonlinear stage of instability and resulting power spectrum applicable to solar wind around 1 AU. Due to the nonlinearity, background density of magnetosonic wave gets modified which results in localization of kinetic Alfvén wave. From the obtained results, we observed that spectral index follows k{sup −3.0}, consistent with observation received by Cluster spacecraft for the solar wind around 1 AU. The result shows the steepening of power spectrum which may be responsible for heating and acceleration of plasma particles in solar wind.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4818506},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22227892}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 8,
volume = 20,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}