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Wave-trains in the solar wind

II: Comments on the propagation of Alfvén waves in the quiet interplanetary medium

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Abstract

The equations of motion of all relevant parameters of Alfvén waves propagating from the sun outwardly into the expanding interplanetary medium are discussed for the case of a quiet, ideal, isotropic, one-fluid solar wind plasma. It is found that the frequency of the wave reamains constant, while the wave vector and the amplitudes depend, in general, on the evolution of the background medium and on the angle between the wave vector and the interplanetary magnetic field. This latter dependence cancels approximately for the evolution of the amplitudes in the case of a pure, overall spiral magnetic field. It is shown that in this case the results of earlier discussions can be derived by less decisive restrictions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Reine und Angewandte Kernphysik, Universität Kiel, Kiel, West Germany

    Arne K. Richter

  2. Abteilung für Theoretische Geophysik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, West Germany

    Dirk J. Olbers

Authors
  1. Arne K. Richter
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  2. Dirk J. Olbers
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Richter, A.K., Olbers, D.J. Wave-trains in the solar wind. Astrophys Space Sci 26, 95–105 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642623

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642623

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