UNSPECIFIED. (2002) A strongly nonlinear Alfvenic pulse in a transversely inhomogeneous medium. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 395 (1). pp. 285-292. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

We investigate the interaction of a plane, linearly polarized, Alfvenic pulse with a one-dimensional, perpendicular to the magnetic field, plasma density inhomogeneity in the strongly nonlinear regime. Our numerical study of the full MHD equations shows that: (i) Plasma density inhomogeneity substantially enhances (by about a factor of 2) the generation of longitudinal compressive waves. (ii) Attained maximal values of the generated transverse compressive perturbations are insensitive to the strength of the plasma density inhomogeneity, plasma beta and the initial amplitude of the Alfven wave. Typically, they reach about 40% of the initial Alfven wave amplitude. (iii) Attained maximal values of the generated relative density perturbations are within 20-40% for 0.5 less than or equal to beta less than or equal to 2.0. They depend upon plasma beta strongly; and scale almost linearly with the initial Alfven wave amplitude.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Journal or Publication Title:	ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Publisher:	E D P SCIENCES
ISSN:	0004-6361
Date:	November 2002
Volume:	395
Number:	1
Number of Pages:	8
Page Range:	pp. 285-292
Identification Number:	10.1051/0004-6361:20021266
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/10428

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