Fine Structure of the Local Alfven Resonances in Cold Plasma Placed in Bumpy Magnetic Field

• Published in: Contributions to plasma physics (1988) Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 476 - 497
• Main Author: Girka, I.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY-VCH Verlag 01-08-2002; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Magnetohydrodynamic waves; Magnetohydrodynamic waves (e.g., alfven waves); Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Waves, oscillations, and instabilities in plasmas and intense beams; Alfven waves; Fine structure; Plasma; Cold plasma; Plasma instability; Magnetic field effects; Theoretical study; Bumpy configuration; Magnetic field ripples; Plasma electromagnetic wave propagation
• ISSN: 0863-1042; 1521-3986
• DOI: 10.1002/1521-3986(200208)42:5<476::AID-CTPP476>3.0.CO;2-W

Unlike in the case of an axial magnetic field, in which each mode of electromagnetic wave excited by an external source propagates independently, ripples in a bumpy magnetic field cause the wave to propagate as a wave envelope that contains also satellite harmonics in addition to the main harmonic. The influence of this multimodity on the distribution of electromagnetic waves within the local Alfven resonance regions is studied and compared for the following three cases. In the first case, Alfven resonance takes place for a main harmonic of the wave. In the second case, Alfven resonance occurs in the same region for two main harmonics which are coupled due to the plasma periodic axial inhomogeneity. Alfven resonance for a satellite harmonic is considered in the third case.