Effects of dust on the propagation and dissipation of Alfven waves in interstellar clouds

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165064· OSTI ID:6461351

Pilipp, W; Morfill, G E; Hartquist, T W; Havnes, O

The propagation of circularly polarized Alfven waves in dusty, weakly ionized media consisting of three gaseous fluids and of one size of grains that are either neutral or singly ionized is numerically investigated. For a molecular hydrogen number density of 10,000/cu cm, a magnetic field strength of 0.0001 G, and a temperature of 20 K, the waves are well coupled when the wavelengths exceed about 1 pc. The grains can reduce the minimum wavelength for coupled waves to about 0.1 pc and the dissipation rates of well-coupled small-amplitude waves by an order of magnitude. The speeds and dissipation rates of decoupled Alfven waves with frequencies well above 0.01/yr and wavelengths well below 0.01 pc are altered greatly over a wide range of frequencies by the presence of grains. In particular, right-handed circularly polarized waves are affected strongly by gyroresonance and cutoff effects. 18 references.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching, West Germany; Maryland Univ., College Park; Nordlysobservatoriet, Tromso, Norway
• OSTI ID: 6461351
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 314; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
ENERGY LOSSES
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZED GASES
LOSSES
NEBULAE
SPACE
WAVE PROPAGATION