On the Alfven resonance and its existence

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871111· OSTI ID:6698972

Rauf, S; Tataronis, J A ^[1]

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1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

In this Brief Communication, the continuous spectra of ideal magnetohydrodynamics are revisited in order to point out and discuss equilibrium configurations in which the Alfven continuum is characterized by a nonlogarithmic spatial singularity in the velocity fluctuation of the plasma. This occurs in a compressible sheet pinch with a shearless equilibrium magnetic field directed parallel to a specified magnetic surface wave vector. It is shown that the component of the velocity vector parallel to the direction of inhomogeneity is bounded at the Alfven resonance layers. The velocity vector possesses spatial singularities, but the singularities are restricted to its component perpendicular to both the direction of the spatial inhomogeneity and the equilibrium magnetic field. The singularities are found to be delta functions. Comments are also made on the Alfven resonance in the incompressible plasma and its relationship to the continuous spectra of the compressible plasma.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-88ER53264
• OSTI ID: 6698972
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
700370 -- Plasma Fluid & MHD Properties-- (1992-)
ALFVEN WAVES
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
DELTA FUNCTION
EQUILIBRIUM
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONS
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC SURFACES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
RESONANCE
SINGULARITY