Laboratory Observation of a Nonlinear Interaction between Shear Alfvén Waves

T. A. Carter, B. Brugman, P. Pribyl, and W. Lybarger
Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 155001 – Published 21 April 2006

Abstract

An experimental investigation of nonlinear interactions between shear Alfvén waves in a laboratory plasma is presented. Two Alfvén waves, generated by a resonant cavity, are observed to beat together, driving a pseudomode at the beat frequency. The pseudomode then scatters the Alfvén waves, generating a series of sidebands. The observed interaction is very strong, with the normalized amplitude of the driven pseudomode comparable to the normalized magnetic field amplitude (δB/B) of the interacting Alfvén waves.

    • Received 22 September 2005

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.155001

    ©2006 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    T. A. Carter1,2,*, B. Brugman1,2, P. Pribyl1, and W. Lybarger1

    • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1547, USA
    • 2Center for Multiscale Plasma Dynamics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1547, USA

    • *Electronic address: tcarter@physics.ucla.edu

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    Issue

    Vol. 96, Iss. 15 — 21 April 2006

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