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Small scales formation via Alfven wave propagation in compressible nonuniform mediaIn weakly dissipative media governed by the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations, any efficient mechanism of energy dissipation requires the formation of small scales. The possibility to produce small scales has been studied by Malara et al. in the case of MHD disturbances propagating in an incompressible and inhomogeneous medium, for a strictly 2D geometry. We extend the work of Malara et al. to include both compressibility and the third component for vector quantities. Using numerical simulations we show that, when an Alfven wave propagates in a compressible nonuniform medium, the two dynamical effects responsible for the small scales formation in the incompressible case are still at work: energy pinching and phase-mixing. Moreover, the interaction between the initial Alfven wave and the inhomogeneity gives rise to the formation of compressible perturbations (fast and slow waves or a static entropy wave). Some of these compressive fluctuations are subject to the steepening of the wave front and become shock waves, which are extremely efficient in dissipating their energy, their dissipation being independent of the Reynolds number. A rough estimate of the typical times which the various dynamical processes take to produce small scales and then to dissipate the energy show that these times are consistent with those required to dissipate inside the solar corona the energy of Alfven waves of photospheric origin.
Document ID
19960021259
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Malara, F.
(Calabria Univ. Arcavacta di Rende, Italy)
Primavera, L.
(Calabria Univ. Arcavacta di Rende, Italy)
Veltri, P.
(Calabria Univ. Arcavacta di Rende, Italy)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
June 30, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: International Solar Wind 8 Conference
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
96N24655
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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