Kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence and formation of localized structures

Journal Article · Thu Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4818506· OSTI ID:22227892

Sharma, R. P. ^[1]; Modi, K. V. ^[1]

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1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi 110016 (India)

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.

• OSTI ID: 22227892
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 20; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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