Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
Nonlinear behaviour of azimuthally symmetric compressional hydromagnetic waves propagating along a cylindrical cold magnetized plasma-filled waveguide is investigated. A nonlinear Schrödinger equation describing the nonlinear evolution of such waves is derived. Numerical evaluation of the dispersive and nonlinear terms reveals that such waves are modulationally stable in the fundamental radial mode of propagation. Calculations are presented for the amplitude dependent frequency and wavenumber shifts.