Filamentation instability of large-amplitude Alfven waves

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA09p09621· OSTI ID:6920844

Kuo, S P; Whang, M H; Lee, M C

An instability that leads to the filamentation of large-amplitude Alfven waves and gives rise to purely growing density and magnetic field fluctuations is studied. The dispersion relation of the instability is derived, from which the threshold conditions and the growth rates of the instability are analyzed quantitatively for applications to the solar wind plasma. We have examined their dependence on the filamentation spectrum, the plasma ..beta.., and the pump frequency and intensity for both right-hand and left-hand circularly polarized Alfven waves. The excitation of filamentation instability for certain cases of interest is discussed and compared with that of the parametric decay and modulation instability. The relevance of the proposed instability with some observations is discussed. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Weber Research Institute, Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, New York
• OSTI ID: 6920844
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 93:A9; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
DISPERSION RELATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA FILAMENT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
POLARIZATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
WAVE PROPAGATION