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On the evolution of a nonlinear Alfvén pulse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1999

E. VERWICHTE,
V. M. NAKARIAKOV and
A. W. LONGBOTTOM
E. VERWICHTE
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, ScotlandFaculty of Mathematics and Computing, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, England
V. M. NAKARIAKOV
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, Scotland
A. W. LONGBOTTOM
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, Scotland
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Abstract

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The temporal evolution of weakly nonlinear, plane, linearly polarized Alfvén pulses in a cold homogeneous plasma is investigated. A static initial pulse-like disturbance in transverse velocity produces two Alfvén pulses that travel in opposite directions along the magnetic field. The ponderomotive force of the two pulses produces a static shock in longitudinal velocity at the starting position. The travelling pulses form a shock front that is governed by the scalar Cohen–Kulsrud equation. We find good agreement between the analytical solutions we derive and the results from a fully nonlinear numerical MHD code.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 62 , Issue 2 , August 1999, pp. 219 - 232
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press