Magnetoacoustic Surface Waves Research Articles

Propagation of Leaky MHD Waves at Discontinuities with Tilted Magnetic Field

We investigate the characteristics of magneto-acoustic surface waves propagating at a single density interface, in the presence of an inclined magnetic field. For linear wave propagation, the dispersion relation is obtained and analytical solutions are derived for small inclination angle. The inclination of the field renders the frequency of the waves complex, where the imaginary part describes wave attenuation, due to lateral energy leakage.

Solar Magnetoseismology with Magnetoacoustic Surface Waves in Asymmetric Magnetic Slab Waveguides

Abstract Solar magnetoseismology is an indirect method to approximate plasma parameters that are traditionally difficult to measure in the solar atmosphere using observations of magnetohydrodynamic waves. A magnetic slab can act as waveguide for magnetoacoustic waves that approximates magnetic structures in the solar atmosphere. The asymmetry of the slab caused by different plasma parameters in each external region affects both the eigenfrequencies and eigenfunctions differently at each side of the slab, that is, both the temporal and spatial profiles of the eigenmodes of propagation along the slab are influenced by the equilibrium asymmetry. We present two novel diagnostic tools for solar magnetoseismology that use this distortion to estimate the slab magnetic field strength using the spatial distribution of magnetoacoustic surface waves: the amplitude ratio and the minimum perturbation shift techniques. They have the potential to estimate background equilibrium parameters in inhomogeneous solar structures such as elongated magnetic bright points, prominences, and the clusters of magnetic brightenings rooted in sunspot light bridges known as light bridge surges or light walls, which may be locally approximated as slabs.

Propagation of magnetoacoustic surface waves along static plasma slab surrounded by moving plasma and neutral gas

The existence and propagation of fast and slow magnetoacoustic surface waves (MASW) is investigated in our work by taking a theoretical model of a static plasma slab as the middle layer with a moving plasma region at the top and neutral gas medium as the bottom layer. Applying linear MHD, the dispersion relation is obtained and the propagation of magnetoacoustic surface waves, in the compressional limit for steady flow and for different values of dimensionless wave numbers, is analyzed. Steady flow of plasma along a structured atmosphere may cause enhancement of existing surface modes, disappearance of some modes and generation of new surface wave modes. The possible regions for the propagation of fast and slow surface and body waves for different mass density ratios and magnetic field ratios and with a small flow velocity are studied. Our discussion may help in analyzing more complicated cases.

Surface waves on MHD tangential discontinuities: case for moderate to low plasma-β values

Variation of phase speed of the magnetoacoustic surface waves on a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), tangential discontinuity (TD) is examined against the variation of Alfvén speeds on opposite sides of the discontinuity with the acoustic speeds remaining constant. The discontinuous thermal profile of the plasma is employed to classify various surface wavemodes. The existence conditions for the surface waves manifest themselves through the appearance of critical values for various parameters restricting the propagation of such waves on the TD. The limiting situation of extremely low-β plasmas is studied to improve upon earlier results based on simplified calculations. Theoretical understanding of the basic structure of surface waves is then applied to specific observations of discontinuities in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) to arrive at simple estimates of phase speed of the surface waves on such discontinuities that may be tested in further observations.

Alfvén waves in a gravitational field with flows

AbstractThe gravitational stratification effect on magnetohydrodynamic waves at a single interface in the solar atmosphere has been studied in the penumbral region of the sunspot recently. The existence of slow and fast magneto acoustic gravity waves and their characteristics has been discussed. The effect of flows on magneto acoustic gravity surface waves leads to modes called flow modes or v-modes. The present geometry is that of a plasma slab moving with uniform velocity surrounded by a plasma of different density. As is applicable to the corona, we assume that the plasma β to be small. The dispersion characteristics change significantly with a change in the value of G (gravity) and uniform flow.

ION–Neutral Collisions Effect on MHD Surface Waves

The effect of ion–neutral collisions on the propagation of MHD waves and surface waves at a single magnetic interface is investigated. The dispersion equations for MHD waves in a partially ionized medium are derived. There are three damped propagating modes in a uniform unbounded medium: an Alfven mode, and fast and slow modes. The damping of waves depends on both the collisional frequency and the ionization fraction. Wave damping increases as ionization fraction decreases. Surface waves are discussed in three cases: (a) the incompressible limit, (b) the low β plasma, and (c) for parallel propagation. The incompressible limit leads to Alfven surface waves in a partially ionized medium and the dispersion characteristics are similar to those obtained by Uberoi and Datta. In the low β plasma of the Earth's auroral F region there are two damped propagating magnetoacoustic surface waves for θ=π/3. There is only one damped surface mode for θ=π/2, but no surface wave is able to propagate for θ=0°. For the case of parallel propagation (θ=0°) the results obtained in the absence of ion-neutral collisions are consistent with the results of Jain and Roberts. It is found that a three-mode structure of damped propagating waves occurs owing to ion–neutral collisions for a comparatively high ionization fraction. For the case of the solar photosphere, where the ionization fraction is low, two weakly damped surface waves are found, though the damping is almost negligible. The pattern of propagation is similar to that found in the case discussed by Jain and Roberts, but the wave speeds are lower due to ion–neutral collisions. The strong collisions tie the ion–neutral species together and reduce the damping.

Поверхностные магнитоакустические волны в магнитных кристаллах в области ориентационных фазовых переходов

Поверхностные магнитоакустические волны в магнитных кристаллах в области ориентационных фазовых переходов

Magneto-acoustic surface waves on current sheets

The theory of linear magneto-acoustic surface waves is investigated for current sheets across which the magnetic field has an arbitrary change of direction: in the first place discontinuously, and in the second place via a narrow transition region in which the magnetic field rotates with constant amplitude, so that the gas pressure remains constant. It is found that the effect of non-zero pressure is to eliminate the surface wave for certain angles of propagation and to allow the existence of an additional, slower, surface wave for other angles of propagation. The resonance damping of the surface waves when the current sheet is of small non-zero width is considered, and it is found that Alfvénresonance damping always occurs, as well as (for high β and certain angles of propagation) compressive- or cusp-resonance damping.

Magnetoacoustic surface gravity waves

The effect of gravity on the surface magnetoacoustic waves may be important when considering applications to solar and laboratory plasmas. The linear magnetoacoustic waves, which may appear in a configuration with an interface between two plasmas or a plasma and an ordinary gas, are studied. Compressibility and gravity are taken into account. The different types of couplings between internal and surface modes are analyzed. Magnetoacoustic surface waves are studied in detail in a configuration consisting of an interface between an isothermal plasma and an ordinary gas. The possible regions where these modes may exist are discussed. A general way of grouping and classifying the complicated spectra of modes is presented. New groups of modes appear as a consequence of gravity and stratification, in addition to those already present in the absence of gravity. The results may be of help in studying more complicated cases.

Magnetoacoustic surface waves at a single interface

The occurrence of magnetoacoustic surface waves at a single magnetic interface one side of which is field-free is explored for the case of non-parallel propagation. Phase-speeds and penetration depths of the waves are investigated for various Alfven speeds, sound speeds and angles of propagation to the applied field. Both slow and fast magnetoacoustic surface waves can exist depending on the values of sound speeds and propagation angle. The fast waves penetrate more than the slow waves.

On the properties of magnetoacoustic surface waves

The nature of magnetoacoustic surface waves at a single magnetic interface, one side of which is field-free, is explored for the case of parallel propagation. The interface may support a slow surface wave or both slow and fast surface waves, depending upon the ordering of the sound speeds in the two media. Phase-speeds and penetration depths of the waves and the associated pressure perturbations and motions are investigated for a variety of field strengths and sound speeds. The fast wave disturbs the interface more than the slow wave. In the magnetic field region the slow wave is mainly longitudinal in nature whilst the fast surface wave is transverse for strong fields, longitudinal for weaker fields. In the field-free region both waves are longitudinal in character. The running penumbral wave phenomenon may provide an example of a magnetoacoustic surface mode, though any direct comparison requires the inclusion of gravitational effects.

Long wave dispersion relations for surface waves in a magnetically structured atmosphere

A means of obtaining approximate dispersion relations for long wavelength magnetoacoustic surface waves propagating in a magnetically structured atmosphere is presented. A general dispersion relation applying to a wide range of magnetic profiles is obtained, and illustrated for the special cases of a single interface and a magnetic slab. In the slab geometry, for example, the dispersion relation contains both the even (sausage) and odd (kink) modes in one formalism.

Wave propagation in a magnetically structured atmosphere

The solar atmosphere, from the photosphere to the corona, is structured by the presence of magnetic fields. We consider the nature of such inhomogeneity and emphasis that the usual picture of hydromagnetic wave propagation in a uniform medium may be misleading if applied to a structured field. We investigate the occurrence of magnetoacoustic surface waves at a single magnetic interface and consider in detail the case where one side of the interface is field-free. For such an interface, a slow surface wave can always propagate. In addition, a fast surface wave may propagate if the field-free medium is warmer than the magnetic atmosphere.

Excitation of magnetoacoustic surface waves by Bloch walls

AbstractThe possibility of excitation of magnetoacoustic surface waves by an rf field on Bloch domain walls is considered. The investigation indicates that dispersive and nondispersive surface waves may be generated. The resonance frequency of magnetic moment vibrations in a Bloch wall near specimen surface is received. When the rf field lies in the easy axis of magnetization the magnetoacoustic surface waves are excited actually in one side. The consideration is restricted to the case of dilute YIG for simplicity.

Excitation of magnetoacoustic surface waves by meander lines

The theory of the excitation of magnetoacoustic surface waves (MASW) by meander lines is presented. It is assumed that the magnetoacoustic coupling coefficients are small. The homogeneous equations of motion for the magnetic system are solved and the results are used as forcing functions in the equations of motion for the elastic motion. Numerical calculations of the radiation resistance and the power for various values of magnetic field, number of meander-line pairs, and linewidth-to-spacing ratios are given. It is found that the acoustic power radiated increases with frequency, linewidth-to-space ratio, and the magnetic field up to the gyrofrequency.