Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
Using first-order smoothing theory, Fourier analysis and perturbation methods, a new equation is derived governing the evolution of the spectrum tensor (including the energy and helicity spectrum functions) of the random velocity field as well as the ponderomotive and mean electromotive forces generated by random Alfvén waves in a plasma with weak magnetic diffusion. The ponderomotive and mean electromotive forces are expressed as series involving spatial derivatives of mean magnetic and velocity fields whose coefficients are associated with the helicity spectrum function of the random velocity field. The effect of microscale random Alfvén waves, through ponderomotive and mean electromotive forces generated by them, on the propagation of large-scale Alfvén waves is also investigated by solving the mean-field equations, including the transport equation of the helicity spectrum function.