Magnetohydrodynamics wave propagation in the neighbourhood of two dipoles

School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, KY16 9SS, UK e-mail: james@mcs.st-and.ac.uk

Received: 23 November 2005
Accepted: 22 February 2006

Abstract

Context.This paper is the third in a series of investigations by the authors.

Aims.The nature of fast magnetoacoustic and Alfvén waves is investigated in a 2D plasma in the neighbourhood of two dipoles.

Methods.We use both numerical simulations (two-step Lax-Wendroff scheme) and analytical techniques (WKB approximation).

Results.It is found that the propagation of the linear fast wave is dictated by the Alfvén speed profile and that close to the null, the wave is attracted to the neutral point. However, it is also found that in this magnetic configuration some of the wave can escape the refraction effect; this had not been seen in previous investigations by the authors. The wave split occurs near the regions of very high Alfvén speed (found near the loci of the two dipoles). Also, for the set-up investigated it was found that  of the wave energy accumulates at the null. Ohmic dissipation will then extract the wave energy at this point. The Alfvén wave behaves in a different manner in that part of the wave accumulates along the separatrices and part escapes. Hence, the current density will accumulate at this part of the topology and this is where wave heating will occur.

Conclusions.The phenomenon of wave accumulation at a specific place is a feature of both wave types, as is the result that a fraction of the wave can now escape the numerical box when propagating in this magnetic configuration.