Exact nonlinear solutions for three-dimensional Alfv\'en-wave packets in relativistic magnetohydrodynamics

Autor:	Mallet, Alfred, Chandran, Benjamin D. G.
Rok vydání:	2021
Předmět:	Physics - Plasma Physics Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Druh dokumentu:	Working Paper
DOI:	10.1017/S0022377821000970
Popis:	We show that large-amplitude, non-planar, Alfv\'en wave (AW) packets are exact nonlinear solutions of the relativistic MHD equations when the total magnetic-field strength in the local fluid rest frame ($b$) is a constant. We derive analytic expressions relating the components of the fluctuating velocity and magnetic field. We also show that these constant-$b$ AWs propagate without distortion at the relativistic Alfv\'en velocity and never steepen into shocks. These findings and the observed abundance of large-amplitude, constant-$b$ AWs in the solar wind suggest that such waves may be present in relativistic outflows around compact astrophysical objects. Comment: 5 pages
Databáze:	arXiv
Externí odkaz:	http://arxiv.org/abs/2105.14126 Zobrazit plný text záznamu View this record from Arxiv