Nonlinear theory of the interaction of sound waves with an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma in the resonant slow wave layer

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872114· OSTI ID:435171

Ruderman, M S; Goossens, M ^[1]; Hollweg, J V ^[2]

---

1. Center for Plasma Astrophysics, K. U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 B, B-3001 Heverlee (Belgium)
2. Space Science Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824 (United States)

The nonlinear theory of driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in the resonant slow wave dissipative layer developed by Ruderman, Hollweg, and Goossens [Phys. Plasmas {bold 4}, 75 (1997)] is used to study the interaction of sound waves with a static one-dimensional planar magnetic plasma configuration. This configuration is a nonhomogeneous magnetic slab (region II) sandwiched by a homogeneous magnetic field free plasma (regions I) and a homogeneous magnetic plasma (region III). The equilibrium magnetic field is unidirectional. An incoming sound wave is launched from region I, and the equilibrium quantities and the parameters of the incoming sound wave are chosen in such a way that the wave is evanescent in region III and resonates with a slow local MHD wave in region II. The analysis is restricted to incoming sound waves with wave vectors in the plane determined by the equilibrium magnetic field and the direction of inhomogeneity, so that there is no resonance with a local Alfv{acute e}n wave. Partial reflection of the incoming sound wave from region II generates an outgoing sound wave in region I. The nonlinearity parameter introduced by Ruderman {ital et al.} is assumed to be small, and a regular perturbation analysis is used to determine the wave solution. The present analysis shows that nonlinearity in the resonant slow wave dissipative layer causes the following new effects in comparison with results obtained on the basis of linear theory: (i) higher harmonic contributions are generated in the wave solution in the dissipative layer and also in the outgoing sound wave in addition to the fundamental harmonic. Outside the dissipative layer the amplitude of each harmonic contribution is of a higher order with respect to the small nonlinearity parameter than inside the dissipative layer. (Abstract Truncated)

• OSTI ID: 435171
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA WAVES
SOUND WAVES