The propagation of waves in an inviscid, electrically conducting fluid is considered. The fluid rotates with angular velocity Ω* and is permeated by a magnetic field b* which varies on the length scale L = Ql, where Q = Ω*l2/λ (l is the length scale of the waves, λ is the magnetic diffusivity) is assumed large (Q [Gt] 1). A linearized theory is readily justified in the limit of zero Rossby number R0 (= U0/Ω*l, where U0 is a typical fluid velocity) and for this case it is shown that the total wave energy of a wave train is conserved and transported at the group velocity except for that which is lost by ohmic dissipation. The analysis is extended to encompass the propagation of a sea of random waves.

A hydromagnetic dynamo model is considered in which the fluid is confined between two horizontal planes perpendicular to the rotation axis a distance L0(=O(L)) apart. Waves of given low frequency Ω*0 (= O(R0Q½Ω*)) and horizontal wavenumber l−1 but random orientation are excited at the lower boundary, where the kinetic energy density is 2πρU20. The waves are absorbed perfectly at the upper boundary, so that there is no reflexion. The linear wave energy equation remains valid in the double limit 1 [Gt] R0Q½[Gt]Q−½, for which it is shown that dynamo action is possible provided $\Delta = L_0U^2_0/l^3\omega_0^{*2} > 1 $. When dynamo action maintains a weak magnetic field (Δ −1 [Lt] 1) which only slightly modifies the inertial waves analytic solutions are obtained. In the case of a strong magnetic field (Δ [Gt] 1) for which Coriolis and Lorentz forces are comparable solutions are obtained numerically. The latter class includes the more realistic case (Δ → ∞) in which the upper boundary is absent.