Ideal and resistive magnetohydrodynamic modes

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · International Journal of Theoretical Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00679972· OSTI ID:6742856

Shivamoggi, B K ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando (United States)

This paper gives a further discussion of the analytical properties of both discrete and continuous Alfven wave spectra in an incompressible as well as compressible plasma. Although the continuous MHD modes produced by a well-behaved initial perturbation decay according to a power lay, some singular solutions exist and are found to behave differently. In particular, it is possible to exhibit the existence of a new continuous mode which decays exponentially, and not as an inverse poer of time, and this exponential damping is not the consequence of a continuous variation of the magnetic field. Even the set of discrete magnetohydrodynamic modes is shown to be empty unless certain conditions are satisfied. Next, the author considers resistive modes and gives explicit solutions for them which are valid in the neighborhood of the Alfven resonance layer and discusses their implications for plasma heating schemes. Finally, he studies dicrete and continuous Alfven wave spectra in a compressible plasma. In particular, he shows that though compressibility of the plasma is responsible for the slow mode continuum, strong compressibility will eliminate it. The dicrete modes in a compressible plasma undergo an exponential damping even in an ideal plasma if the compressibility is strong. 30 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6742856
• Journal Information: International Journal of Theoretical Physics; (United States), Journal Name: International Journal of Theoretical Physics; (United States) Vol. 31:12; ISSN IJTPBM; ISSN 0020-7748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665510* -- Magnetohydrodynamics-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ALFVEN WAVES
DAMPING
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLASMA HEATING
RESONANCE
SPECTRA