A general theory of self-similar expansion waves in magnetohydrodynamic flows

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. G. T. TAYLOR ◽  
P. J. CARGILL

Abstract. The general theory of self-similar magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) expansion waves is presented. Building on the familiar hydrodynamic results, a complete range of possible field–flow and wave-mode orientations are explored. When the magnetic field and flow are parallel, only the fast-mode wave can undergo an expansion to vacuum conditions: the self-similar slow-mode wave has a density that increases monotonically. For fast-mode waves with the field at an arbitrary angle with respect to the flow, the MHD equations have a critical point. There is a unique solution that passes through the critical point that has ½γβ = 1 and Br = 0 there, where γ is the polytropic index, β the local plasma beta and Br the radial component of the magnetic field. The critical point is an umbilical point, where sound and Alfvén speeds are equal, and the transcritical solution undergoes a change from a fast-mode to a slow-mode expansion at the critical point. Slow-mode expansions exist for field-flow orientations where the angle between field and flow lies either between 90° and 180° or between 270° and 360°. There is also an umbilic point in these solutions when the initial plasma beta β0 exceeds a critical value βcrit. When β0 [ges ] βcrit, the solutions require a transition through a critical point. When β0 < βcrit, there is a smooth solution involving an inflection in the density and angular velocity. For other angles between field and flow, all the slow-mode waves are compressive. An analytic solution for the case of a magnetic field everywhere perpendicular to the flow with γ = 2 is presented.

1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengxin Chen ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Chaoshun Qu

In this paper we study the system governing flows in the magnetic field within the earth. The system is similar to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. For initial data in spaceLp, we obtained the local in time existence and uniqueness ofweak solutions of the system subject to appropriate initial and boundary conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 482
Author(s):  
Н.М. Горшунов ◽  
Е.П. Потанин

Equations are obtained that describe the characteristics of the azimuthal motion and radial expansion of a plasma jet under the action of a rotating transverse magnetic field of a dipole configuration in a longitudinal static magnetic field. The analysis was carried out both in the multicomponent approximation and on the basis of MHD equations taking into account the Hall effect. Based on the obtained dependences of the azimuthal and radial ion velocities on the magnetic field values, the separation characteristics of the direct-flow plasma centrifuge are estimated for the separation of a two-component binary mixture simulating spent nuclear fuel. It was shown that the concentration of the heavy uranium-plutonium component in the product flow can be increased from the initial 96 to 99.8% with a fuel component extraction of 0.87.


2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A90
Author(s):  
A. Koukras ◽  
C. Marqué ◽  
C. Downs ◽  
L. Dolla

Context. EUV (EIT) waves are wavelike disturbances of enhanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission that propagate away from an eruptive active region across the solar disk. Recent years have seen much debate over their nature, with three main interpretations: the fast-mode magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) wave, the apparent wave (reconfiguration of the magnetic field), and the hybrid wave (combination of the previous two). Aims. By studying the kinematics of EUV waves and their connection with type II radio bursts, we aim to examine the capability of the fast-mode interpretation to explain the observations, and to constrain the source locations of the type II radio burst emission. Methods. We propagate a fast-mode MHD wave numerically using a ray-tracing method and the WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) approximation. The wave is propagated in a static corona output by a global 3D MHD Coronal Model, which provides density, temperature, and Alfvén speed in the undisturbed coronal medium (before the eruption). We then compare the propagation of the computed wave front with the observed wave in EUV images (PROBA2/SWAP, SDO/AIA). Lastly, we use the frequency drift of the type II radio bursts to track the propagating shock wave, compare it with the simulated wave front at the same instant, and identify the wave vectors that best match the plasma density deduced from the radio emission. We apply this methodology for two EUV waves observed during SOL2017-04-03T14:20:00 and SOL2017-09-12T07:25:00. Results. The simulated wave front displays a good qualitative match with the observations for both events. Type II radio burst emission sources are tracked on the wave front all along its propagation. The wave vectors at the ray-path points that are characterized as sources of the type II radio burst emission are quasi-perpendicular to the magnetic field. Conclusions. We show that a simple ray-tracing model of the EUV wave is able to reproduce the observations and to provide insight into the physics of such waves. We provide supporting evidence that they are likely fast-mode MHD waves. We also narrow down the source region of the radio burst emission and show that different parts of the wave front are responsible for the type II radio burst emission at different times of the eruptive event.


1976 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hruška

In a layer of magnetic field aligned current, waves corresonding to the slow mode in the limit of no current are absorbed and/or reflected as soon as they enter the layer, while, under certain conditions, the waves corresponding to the fast mode do propagate through the layer.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S247) ◽  
pp. 78-81
Author(s):  
S. S. Hasan ◽  
O. Steiner ◽  
A. van Ballegooijen

AbstractThe aim of this work is to examine the hypothesis that the wave propagation time in the solar atmosphere can be used to infer the magnetic topography in the chromosphere as suggested by Finsterle et al. (2004). We do this by using an extension of our earlier 2-D MHD work on the interaction of acoustic waves with a flux sheet. It is well known that these waves undergo mode transformation due to the presence of a magnetic field which is particularly effective at the surface of equipartition between the magnetic and thermal energy density, the β = 1 surface. This transformation depends sensitively on the angle between the wave vector and the local field direction. At the β = 1 interface, the wave that enters the flux sheet, (essentially the fast mode) has a higher phase speed than the incident acoustic wave. A time correlation between wave motions in the non-magnetic and magnetic regions could therefore provide a powerful diagnostic for mapping the magnetic field in the chromospheric network.


2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. A87 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Griton ◽  
F. Pantellini

Context. As proven by measurements at Uranus and Neptune, the magnetic dipole axis and planetary spin axis can be off by a large angle exceeding 45°. The magnetosphere of such an (exo-)planet is highly variable over a one-day period and it does potentially exhibit a complex magnetic tail structure. The dynamics and shape of rotating magnetospheres do obviously depend on the planet’s characteristics but also, and very substantially, on the orientation of the planetary spin axis with respect to the impinging, generally highly supersonic, stellar wind. Aims. On its orbit around the Sun, the orientation of Uranus’ spin axis with respect to the solar wind changes from quasi-perpendicular (solstice) to quasi-parallel (equinox). In this paper, we simulate the magnetosphere of a fictitious Uranus-like planet plunged in a supersonic plasma (the stellar wind) at equinox. A simulation with zero wind velocity is also presented in order to help disentangle the effects of the rotation from the effects of the supersonic wind in the structuring of the planetary magnetic tail. Methods. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in conservative form are integrated on a structured spherical grid using the Message-Passing Interface-Adaptive Mesh Refinement Versatile Advection Code (MPI-AMRVAC). In order to limit diffusivity at grid level, we used background and residual decomposition of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is thus made of the sum of a prescribed time-dependent background field B0(t) and a residual field B1(t) computed by the code. In our simulations, B0(t) is essentially made of a rigidly rotating potential dipole field. Results. The first simulation shows that, while plunged in a non-magnetised plasma, a magnetic dipole rotating about an axis oriented at 90° with respect to itself does naturally accelerate the plasma away from the dipole around the rotation axis. The acceleration occurs over a spatial scale of the order of the Alfvénic co-rotation scale r*. During the acceleration, the dipole lines become stretched and twisted. The observed asymptotic fluid velocities are of the order of the phase speed of the fast MHD mode. In two simulations where the surrounding non-magnetised plasma was chosen to move at supersonic speed perpendicularly to the rotation axis (a situation that is reminiscent of Uranus in the solar wind at equinox), the lines of each hemisphere are symmetrically twisted and stretched as before. However, they are also bent by the supersonic flow, thus forming a magnetic tail of interlaced field lines of opposite polarity. Similarly to the case with no wind, the interlaced field lines and the attached plasma are accelerated by the rotation and also by the transfer of kinetic energy flux from the surrounding supersonic flow. The tailwards fluid velocity increases asymptotically towards the externally imposed flow velocity, or wind. In one more simulation, a transverse magnetic field, to both the spin axis and flow direction, was added to the impinging flow so that magnetic reconnection could occur between the dipole anchored field lines and the impinging field lines. No major difference with respect to the no-magnetised flow case is observed, except that the tailwards acceleration occurs in two steps and is slightly more efficient. In order to emphasise the effect of rotation, we only address the case of a fast-rotating planet where the co-rotation scale r* is of the order of the planetary counter-flow magnetopause stand-off distance rm. For Uranus, r*≫ rm and the effects of rotation are only visible at large tailwards distances r ≫ rm.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Sofue

Abstract Propagation of fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) compression waves is traced in the Galactic Center with a poloidal magnetic cylinder. MHD waves ejected from the nucleus are reflected and guided along the magnetic field, exhibiting vertically stretched fronts. The radio threads and non-thermal filaments are explained as due to tangential views of the waves driven by sporadic activity in Sgr A$^*$, or by multiple supernovae. In the latter case, the threads could be extremely deformed relics of old supernova remnants exploded in the nucleus.


1981 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Lerche

An investigation is made of the self-similar flow behind a cylindrical blast wave from a line explosion (situated on r = 0, using conventional cylindrical coordinates r, 4>, z) in a medium whose density and magnetic field both vary as r -w ahead of the blast front, with the assumption that the flow is isothermal. The magnetic field can have components in both the azimuthal B(jJ and longitudinal B, directions. It is found that: (i) For B(jJ =f:. 0 =f:. B, a continuous single-valued solution with a velocity field representing outflow of material away from the line of explosion does not exist for OJ OJ > 0 the governing equation possesses a set of movable critical points. In this case it is shown that the fluid flow velocity is bracketed between two curves and that the asymptotes of the velocity curve on the shock are intersected by, or are tangent to, the two curves. Thus a solution always exists in the physical domain r ~ o. The overall conclusion from the investigation is that the behaviour of isothermal blast waves in the presence of an ambient magnetic field differs substantially from the behaviour calculated for no magnetic field. These results have an impact upon previous applications of the theory of self-similar flows to evolving supernova remnants without allowance for the dynamical influence of magnetic pressure and magnetic tension.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 952-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Midya ◽  
G. C. Layek ◽  
A. S. Gupta ◽  
T. Ray Mahapatra

An analysis is made of the flow of an electrically conducting fluid in a channel with constrictions in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field. A solution technique for governing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in primitive variable formulation is developed. A coordinate stretching is used to map the long irregular geometry into a finite computational domain. The governing equations are discretized using finite difference approximations and the well-known staggered grid of Harlow and Welch is used. Pressure Poisson equation and pressure-velocity correction formulas are derived and solved numerically. It is found that the flow separates downstream of the constriction. With increase in the magnetic field, the flow separation zone diminishes in size and for large magnetic field, the separation zone disappears completely. Wall shear stress increases with increase in the magnetic field strength. It is also found that for symmetrically situated constrictions on the channel walls, the critical Reynolds number for the flow bifurcation (i.e., flow asymmetry) increases with increase in the magnetic field.


Author(s):  
Thomas Wiegelmann

Magnetohydrodynamic equilibria are time-independent solutions of the full magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. An important class are static equilibria without plasma flow. They are described by the magnetohydrostatic equations j×B=∇p+ρ∇Ψ,∇×B=μ0j,∇·B=0. B is the magnetic field, j the electric current density, p the plasma pressure, ρ the mass density, Ψ the gravitational potential, and µ0 the permeability of free space. Under equilibrium conditions, the Lorentz force j×B is compensated by the plasma pressure gradient force and the gravity force. Despite the apparent simplicity of these equations, it is extremely difficult to find exact solutions due to their intrinsic nonlinearity. The problem is greatly simplified for effectively two-dimensional configurations with a translational or axial symmetry. The magnetohydrostatic (MHS) equations can then be transformed into a single nonlinear partial differential equation, the Grad–Shafranov equation. This approach is popular as a first approximation to model, for example, planetary magnetospheres, solar and stellar coronae, and astrophysical and fusion plasmas. For systems without symmetry, one has to solve the full equations in three dimensions, which requires numerically expensive computer programs. Boundary conditions for these systems can often be deduced from measurements. In several astrophysical plasmas (e.g., the solar corona), the magnetic pressure is orders of magnitudes higher than the plasma pressure, which allows a neglect of the plasma pressure in lowest order. If gravity is also negligible, Equation 1 then implies a force-free equilibrium in which the Lorentz force vanishes. Generalizations of MHS equilibria are stationary equilibria including a stationary plasma flow (e.g., stellar winds in astrophysics). It is also possible to compute MHD equilibria in rotating systems (e.g., rotating magnetospheres, rotating stellar coronae) by incorporating the centrifugal force. MHD equilibrium theory is useful for studying physical systems that slowly evolve in time. In this case, while one has an equilibrium at each time step, the configuration changes, often in response to temporal changes of the measured boundary conditions (e.g., the magnetic field of the Sun for modeling the corona) or of external sources (e.g., mass loading in planetary magnetospheres). Finally, MHD equilibria can be used as initial conditions for time-dependent MHD simulations. This article reviews the various analytical solutions and numerical techniques to compute MHD equilibria, as well as applications to the Sun, planetary magnetospheres, space, and laboratory plasmas.


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