STUDY OF ALFVEN WAVES IN STELLAR PLASMAS AND IN PLASMAS OF MAGNETIC CONFINMENT (TOKAMAK)

Abstract

Alfvèn waves are low frequency magnetohydrodynamics plasma waves or oscillations which propagate in the direction of the magnetic field. Alfvèn waves are of fundamental importance in the behavior of many laboratory and space plasmas. They play important roles in the heating, stability and transport of plasmas. Solar plasmas are structured and stratified both vertically and horizontally. The stability is discussed of the drift- Alfvèn wave which is driven by the equilibrium density gradient, collisional solar plasma, including the effects of both hot ions and a finite ion Larmor radius. An analytical mode analysis is used for the description of the waves in spatially unlimited plasma. In the analysis of modes, the exchange of identity between the electrostatic and electromagnetic modes is demonstrated. The results are applied to coronal and chromospheric plasmas