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Dynamics of Alfvén waves in partially ionized astrophysical plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2009

DASTGEER SHAIKH
DASTGEER SHAIKH*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Center for Space Physics and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR), University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA ([email protected], [email protected])
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Abstract

We develop a two dimensional, self-consistent, compressible fluid model to study evolution of Alfvenic modes in partially ionized astrophysical and space plasmas. The partially ionized plasma consists mainly of electrons, ions and significant neutral atoms. The nonlinear interactions amongst these species take place predominantly through direct collision or charge exchange processes. Our model uniquely describe the interaction processes between two distinctly evolving fluids. In our model, the electrons and ions are described by a single-fluid compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model and are coupled self-consistently to the neutral fluid via compressible hydrodynamic equations. Both plasma and neutral fluids are treated with different energy equations that adequately enable us to monitor non-adiabatic and thermal energy exchange processes between these two distinct fluids. Based on our self-consistent model, we find that the propagation speed of Alfvenic modes in space and astrophysical plasma is slowed down because these waves are damped predominantly due to direct collisions with the neutral atoms. Consequently, energy transfer takes place between plasma and neutral fluids. We describe the mode coupling processes that lead to the energy transfer between the plasma and neutral and corresponding spectral features.

Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 76 , Special Issue 3-4: In Honor of Professor Padma Kant Shukla on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday , August 2010 , pp. 305 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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