Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Transverse collapse of Alfv{acute e}n wave-trains with small dispersion

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872678· OSTI ID:565768
; ;  [1]
  1. CNRS UMR 6529, Observatoire de la Cote dAzur, BP 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4 (France)
While in the presence of dispersion the circular polarization of a weakly nonlinear Alfv{acute e}n wave-train is preserved, and the envelope dynamics governed by the usual scalar nonlinear Schr{umlt o}dinger equation, this is no longer the case in the small dispersion limit. It is shown that the wave amplitude then obeys a vector Schr{umlt o}dinger equation with an anisotropic diffraction term. The transverse collapse developing in three space dimensions then leads to the formation of thin layers of intense gradients instead of the foci characteristic of the dispersive case. The transition between the two regimes when the dispersion is decreased, is also analyzed. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}
OSTI ID:
565768
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 5; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Dissipative Dynamics of Collisionless Nonlinear Alfv{acute e}n Wave Trains
Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physical Review Letters · OSTI ID:531878

Fluid models for kinetic effects on coherent nonlinear Alfv{acute e}n waves. I. Fundamental theory
Journal Article · Thu Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Physics of Plasmas · OSTI ID:278984

Defocusing regimes of nonlinear waves in media with negative dispersion
Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics · OSTI ID:278686