English

Alfvenic tornadoes

Plasma Physics 2012-09-04 v1

Abstract

It is shown that a three-dimensional (3D) modified-kinetic Alfv\'en waves (m-KAWs) can propagate in the form of Alfv\'enic tornadoes characterized by plasma density whirls or magnetic flux ropes carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). By using the two fluid model, together with Amp\`ere's law, we derive the wave equation for a 3D m-KAWs in a magnetoplasma with me/miβ1m_e/m_i \ll \beta \ll 1, where mem_e (mi)(m_i) is the electron (ion) mass, β=4πn0kB(Te+Ti)/B02\beta =4 \pi n_0 k_B (T_e + T_i)/B_0^2, n0n_0 the unperturbed plasma number density, kBk_B the Boltzmann constant, Te(Te)T_e (T_e) the electron (ion) temperature, and B0B_0 the strength of the ambient magnetic field. The 3D m-KAW equation admits solutions in the form of a Laguerre-Gauss (LG) Alfv\'enic vortex beam or Alfv\'enic tornadoes with plasma density whirls that support the dynamics of Alfv\'en magnetic flux ropes.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1209.0083,
  title  = {Alfvenic tornadoes},
  author = {P. K. Shukla},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1209.0083},
  year   = {2012}
}

Comments

13 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T21:58:23.461Z