Measurement of Energy Reduction of Inertial Alfvén Waves Propagating through Parallel Gradients in the Alfvén Speed

Joshi, Garima; Bose, Sayak; Carter, Troy; Savin, Daniel Wolf; Tripathi, Shreekrishna; Vincena, Stephen; Hahn, Michael

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adb8e2

Measurement of Energy Reduction of Inertial Alfvén Waves Propagating through Parallel Gradients in the Alfvén Speed

Journal Article · Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · The Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb8e2· OSTI ID:2532467

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Abstract

We have studied the propagation of inertial Alfvén waves through parallel gradients in the Alfvén speed using the Large Plasma Device at the University of California, Los Angeles. The reflection and transmission of Alfvén waves through inhomogeneities in the background plasma are important for understanding wave propagation, turbulence, and heating in space, laboratory, and astrophysical plasmas. Here we present inertial Alfvén waves under conditions relevant to solar flares and the solar corona. We find that the transmission of the inertial Alfvén waves is reduced as the sharpness of the gradient is increased. Any reflected waves were below the detection limit of our experiment, and reflection cannot account for all of the energy not transmitted through the gradient. Our findings indicate that, for both kinetic and inertial Alfvén waves, the controlling parameter for the transmission of the waves through an Alfvén speed gradient is the ratio of the Alfvén wavelength along the gradient divided by the scale length of the gradient. Furthermore, our results suggest that an as-yet-unidentified damping process occurs in the gradient.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0021261; SC0025366; SC0022153

OSTI ID:: 2532467

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2547007

Journal Information:: The Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 982; ISSN 0004-637X

Publisher:: American Astronomical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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