Weakly turbulent magnetohydrodynamic waves in compressible low-beta plasmas.

Academic Article

Abstract

  • In this Letter, weak-turbulence theory is used to investigate interactions among Alfvén waves and fast and slow magnetosonic waves in collisionless low-beta plasmas. The wave kinetic equations are derived from the equations of magnetohydrodynamics, and extra terms are then added to model collisionless damping. These equations are used to provide a quantitative description of a variety of nonlinear processes, including parallel and perpendicular energy cascade, energy transfer between wave types, "phase mixing," and the generation of backscattered Alfvén waves.
  • Status

    Publication Date

  • December 5, 2008
  • Has Subject Area

    Published In

    Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Pubmed Id

  • 19113563
  • Start Page

  • 235004
  • Volume

  • 101
  • Issue

  • 23