ON THE CONSERVATION OF CROSS HELICITY AND WAVE ACTION IN SOLAR-WIND MODELS WITH NON-WKB ALFVÉN WAVE REFLECTION
Journal Article
·
· Astrophysical Journal
- Space Science Center and Department of Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 (United States)
The interaction between Alfvén-wave turbulence and the background solar wind affects the cross helicity (∫d{sup 3}x v⋅B) in two ways. Non-WKB reflection converts outward-propagating Alfvén waves into inward-propagating Alfvén waves and vice versa, and the turbulence transfers momentum to the background flow. When both effects are accounted for, the total cross helicity is conserved. In the special case that the background density and flow speed are independent of time, the equations of cross-helicity conservation and total-energy conservation can be combined to recover a well-known equation derived by Heinemann and Olbert that has been interpreted as a non-WKB generalization of wave-action conservation. This latter equation (in contrast to cross-helicity and energy conservation) does not hold when the background varies in time.
- OSTI ID:
- 22862877
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 811; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
On WKB expansions for Alfven waves in the solar wind
On reflection of Alfven waves in the solar wind
Non-WKB Alfven waves in the solar wind
Journal Article
·
Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990
· Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5314364
On reflection of Alfven waves in the solar wind
Technical Report
·
Thu Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1993
·
OSTI ID:102025
Non-WKB Alfven waves in the solar wind
Journal Article
·
Fri Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1980
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5286211