Abstract
Large-amplitude magnetic pulsations on ion inertial length scales are often observed in space plasmas, but their theoretical explanation is still controversial. We discuss a possible mechanism, different from ideas based on the classical plasma instabilities, for the generation of these pulsations. It is demonstrated that a competition between dispersion and wave steepening processes can lead to the transformation of a large-scale magnetosonic structure into trains of solitons. This kind of longitudinal filamentation is possible for both slow and fast magnetosonic perturbations. Results of numerical simulations are compared with Cluster spacecraft measurements and show that the steepening filamentation mechanism can explain the emergence of a certain class of solitary waves observed in space plasmas.
Original language | English |
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Article number | A07209 |
Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics |
Volume | 116 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geophysics
- Forestry
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Ecology
- Water Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Atmospheric Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Space and Planetary Science
- Palaeontology