ON THE STRUCTURE OF MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES OF FINITE AMPLITUDE IN A COLD COLLISIONLESS PLASMA

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4726298

Wilson, T A

BS>Properties of the two-fluid plasma equations which lead to a partial theoretical model for the coillsionless shock wave are investigated. First, a non-linear symmetricpulse solution to the collisionless two-fluid equations is described. The propagation speed of the pulse is between the Alfven speed and the fast wave speed, and the pulse thickness is of the order of (m/sub i/c/sup 2// 4 e (as Fe/sup 59 e/sup 2/N)?sup 1/2/, except f or geometries in which the wave normal makes an angle of the order of (m/sub e//m/sub i/)/sup 1/2/ or less with the upstream magnetic field. An effective conductivity is then introduced in the equations of motion of the plasma, and a shock thickness is estimated. The calculated dependence of shock thickness on Mach number is shown to agree with Patrick's experimental data. Finally, the growth of a sinusoidal pinch instability of a current-carrying plasma is shown to have the average effect of a finite conductivity as was postulated. (Dissertation Abstr.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-022761
• OSTI ID: 4726298
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALFVEN WAVES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
EQUATIONS
FLUID FLOW
INTERACTIONS
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MOTION
NUMERICALS
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PINCH
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
PULSES
SHOCK WAVES
STABILITY
THICKNESS
VELOCITY