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Phase-mixing and surface waves: a new interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

P. S. Cally
P. S. Cally
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
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Abstract

The classical incompressible MHD or cold plasma phase mixing problem, which involves Alfvén or plasma waves in inhornogeneous media, is re-examined using a spatial Fourier series rather than the usual temporal Fourier or Laplace transform approach. A number of exact and near-exact analytic and numerical results are derived which reveal an attractive picture of energy cascading to smaller length-scales in a manner reminiscent of turbulence. Furthermore, we present a simple and unambiguous description of how a surface wave arises in the limit in which the inhomogeneity becomes a discontinuity.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 45 , Issue 3 , June 1991 , pp. 453 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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