The transformation of magnetoacoustic waves into Alfvén waves inside the magnetosphere
A mechanism for the transformation of a magnetoacoustic wave into an Alfvén wave is proposed. During the compression of the magnetosphere by the solar wind the inner edge of the plasma sheet and the contours of <i>B</i>=const move in different ways. In the case of asymmet...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | http://www.ann-geophys.net/12/1022/1994/angeo-12-1022-1994.html |
| Summary: | A mechanism for the transformation of a magnetoacoustic wave into an Alfvén wave is proposed. During the compression of the magnetosphere by the solar wind the inner edge of the plasma sheet and the contours of <i>B</i>=const move in different ways. In the case of asymmetrical compression, the contours of <i>B</i>=const will cross the inner edge of the plasma sheet. To close the drift currents - that flow in the plasma sheet along the contours of <i>B</i>=const - the appearance of the field-aligned currents is necessary. This appearance corresponds to the generation of the Alfvén wave. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |