On the existence of finite amplitude, transverse Alfven waves in the interplanetary magnetic field
Abstract
Interplanetary magnetic field data from the Mariner 10 spacecraft were examined for evidence of small and finite amplitude transverse Alfven waves, general finite amplitude Alfven waves, and magnetosonic waves. No evidence for transverse Alfven waves was found. Instead, the field fluctuations were found to be dominated by the general finite amplitude Alfven wave. Such wave modes correspond to non-plane-wave solutions of the nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic equations.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- July 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977STIN...7731057S
- Keywords:
-
- Interplanetary Magnetic Fields;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Waves;
- Transverse Waves;
- Wave Amplification;
- Magnetosonic Resonance;
- Mariner 10 Space Probe;
- Plasma Turbulence;
- Waveforms;
- Astrophysics