Accession Number:

AD0777168

Title:

Resonant Alfven Waves in a Dipole Magnetic Field,

Descriptive Note:

Rept. for Aug-Dec 73,

Corporate Author:

AEROSPACE CORP EL SEGUNDO CALIF LAB OPERATIONS

Personal Author(s):

• Chiu,Y. T.

Report Date:

1974-03-19

Pagination or Media Count:

33.0

Abstract:

The general problem of determining the plasma density distribution in a dipole magnetic field by means of the characteristics of resonant Alfven waves is discussed in terms of the theory of Hills differential equation. It is shown that for a spectrum of power-law plasma density models the vector wave equation for resonant Alfven waves, guided along field lines of a static dipole magnetic field, can be solved exactly in terma of Mathieu functions. Author

Descriptors:

• *Plasmas(Physics)
• Magnetic dipoles
• Wave equations
• Magnetosphere
• Electron density
• Numerical analysis

Subject Categories:

• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE