Propagation of hydromagnetic waves through a collisionless, heat-conducting plasma
Abstract
The propagation of small-amplitude hydromagnetic waves in a collisionless, heat-conducting plasma is investigated using the first-order Chew-Goldberger- Low (CGL) fluid equations including the effect of finite Larmor radius of the ion. The first-order heat flux equations are derived by use of Macmahon's technique. The zeroth-order velocity distribution function of the ion in the CGL expansion is assumed to be a heat-flux-bearing distribution function. The effect of heat flux on the propagation of hydromagnetic waves is analysed by use of phase speed and refractive index surfaces and the amplitude relation between the density perturbation and the magnetic field perturbation. It is shown that the hydromagnetic wave propagation characteristics are asymmetric with respect to the direction of external magnetic field to zeroth order and first order for magneto- acoustic and Alfvén waves, respectively, and the garden hose instability criterion is modified by the heat flux anisotropy.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- August 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0022377800010576
- Bibcode:
- 1981JPlPh..26...95N
- Keywords:
-
- Collisionless Plasmas;
- Conductive Heat Transfer;
- Plasma Waves;
- Propagation Modes;
- Wave Propagation;
- Asymmetry;
- Distribution Functions;
- Heat Flux;
- Larmor Radius;
- Phase Velocity;
- Plasma Density;
- Plasma Physics