Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
This paper reports on the observation of nonlinear effects in the propagation of axisymmetric (m = 0) torsional hydromagnetic waves in a partially ionized helium afterglow plasma. In accordance with the predictions of a weakly nonlinear theory, magnetic field perturbations oscillating at twice the frequency of the primary wave have been observed. Good quantitative agreement between the experimental data and theoretical calculations is obtained for moderate primary wave amplitudes.