Energy, angular momentum and wave action associated with density waves in a rotating magnetized gas disc

Abstract

Both fast and slow magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) density waves propagating in a thin rotating magnetized gas disc are investigated. In the tight-winding or WKBJ regime, the radial variation of MHD density-wave amplitude during wave propagation is governed by the conservation of wave action surface density N which travels at a relevant radial group speed Cg. The wave energy surface density ℰ and the wave angular momentum surface density J are related to N by ℰ=ωN and J=mN respectively, where ω is the angular frequency in an inertial frame of reference and the integer m, proportional to the azimuthal wavenumber, corresponds to the number of spiral arms. Consequently, both wave energy and angular momentum are conserved for spiral MHD density waves. For both fast and slow MHD density waves, net wave energy and angular momentum are carried outward or inward for trailing or leading spirals, respectively. The wave angular momentum flux contains separate contributions from gravity torque, advective transport and magnetic torque. While the gravity torque plays an important role, the latter two can be of comparable magnitudes to the former. Similar to the role of gravity torque, the part of MHD wave angular momentum flux by magnetic torque (in the case of either fast or slow MHD density waves) propagates outward or inward for trailing or leading spirals, respectively. From the perspective of global energetics in a magnetized gas sheet in rotation, trailing spiral structures of MHD density waves are preferred over leading ones. With proper qualifications, the generation and maintenance as well as transport properties of MHD density waves in magnetized spiral galaxies are discussed.