Perturbation theory for Alfven wave

Journal Article · Tue Oct 10 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · International Journal of Modern Physics B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217979295001075· OSTI ID:137063

Yoshida, Z ^[1]; Mahajan, S M ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Tokyo (Japan). Faculty of Engineering
2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Inst. for Fusion Studies

The Alfven wave is the dominant low frequency transverse mode of a magnetized plasma. The Alfven wave propagation along the magnetic field, and displays a continuous spectrum even in a bounded plasma. This is essentially due to the degeneracy of the wave characteristics, i.e. the frequency ({omega}) is primarily determined by the wave number in the direction parallel to the ambient magnetic field (k{sub {parallel}}) and is independent of the perpendicular wavenumbers. The characteristics, that are the direction along which the wave energy propagates, are identical to the ambient magnetic field lines. Therefore, the spectral structure of the Alfven wave has a close relationship with the geometric structure of the magnetic field lines. In an inhomogeneous plasma, the Alfven resonance constitutes a singularity for the defining wave equation; this results in a singular eigenfunction corresponding to the continuous spectrum. The aim of this review is to present an overview of the perturbation theory for the Alfven wave. Emphasis is placed on those perturbations of the continuous spectrum which lead to the creation of point spectra. Such qualitative changes in the spectrum are relevant to many plasma phenomena.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 137063
• Journal Information: International Journal of Modern Physics B, Journal Name: International Journal of Modern Physics B Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 9; ISSN 0217-9792; ISSN IJPBEV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PHASE VELOCITY
USES
WAVE PROPAGATION