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PC MHD

This document provides a summary of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) basics in one lecture. It introduces the MHD equations, which combine fluid dynamics and Maxwell's equations. MHD applies to partially ionized gases and plasmas. Key topics covered include the MHD approximation, magnetic Reynolds number, ideal MHD equations, Alfven's theorem on flux freezing, Lorentz force, plasma beta, and MHD waves like Alfven waves and magnetoacoustic waves. Diagrams illustrate properties of the different wave types like phase speed and group velocity.

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Atul Kharat
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34 views

PC MHD

This document provides a summary of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) basics in one lecture. It introduces the MHD equations, which combine fluid dynamics and Maxwell's equations. MHD applies to partially ionized gases and plasmas. Key topics covered include the MHD approximation, magnetic Reynolds number, ideal MHD equations, Alfven's theorem on flux freezing, Lorentz force, plasma beta, and MHD waves like Alfven waves and magnetoacoustic waves. Diagrams illustrate properties of the different wave types like phase speed and group velocity.

Uploaded by

Atul Kharat
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

Swinburne March 12 2007 1

Magnetohydrodynamics Basics
or MHD in one lecture?! You've gotta be kidding!
Paul Cally, Centre for Stellar & Planetary
Astrophysics, Monash University

MHD Equations

Physical Interpretation

MHD Waves
Swinburne March 12 2007 2
Solar
atmosphere
dominated
by
magnetic
fields
Swinburne March 12 2007 3
MHD

MHD = fluid dynamics + Maxwell's eqns -


displacement current + Ohm's Law
[j=(E+vXB) or generalization]

Applies to (at least partially) ionized gases


(plasmas)

Nonrelativistic

Assumes highly collisional, low frequency


(c.f. cyclotron frequency)
Swinburne March 12 2007 4
MHD Approximation

v
2
<< c
2

Then Ampre's Law simplifies:


The electric field E plays no independent
role in MHD: it is entirely derivable from
v and B:
B=j j +
1
c
2
E
t
E=vB+
j
c
=vB+
B
jc
Swinburne March 12 2007 5
MHD Equations
j
t
+(jv)=0
j
Dv
Dt
= p+j g+j B+viscous terms
B
t
=(vB)+j
2
B with B=0 and j=1/jc
jT
Ds
Dt
=viscous heating + Joule heating - radiative losses - conductive losses+.
Lorentz force

Continuity

Momentum
where j =
1 -
XB = current density; =4X10
-7
(SI units)

Energy (many different forms)

Induction (=electrical conductivity; =magnetic diffusivity)


Swinburne March 12 2007 6
Magnetic Reynolds Number

Induction eqn:

Ratio of advective to diffusive terms:

the Magnetic Reynolds Number

V=typical velocity, L=typical lengthscale


R
m
>> 1 dominated by advection
R
m
<< 1 dominated by diffusion
B
t
=(vB)
_
advective
+j
2
B
_
diffusive
R
m
=
V L
j
Swinburne March 12 2007 7
Ideal MHD Equations

Continuity

Momentum

Energy (many different forms)

Induction
j
t
+(jv)=0
j
Dv
Dt
= p+j g+ j B+viscous terms
B
t
=(vB)+j
2
B with B=0
jT
D s
Dt
=viscous heating + Joule heating - radiative losses - conductive losses+.
i.e. ,
D p
Dt
=c
2
Dj
Dt
( adiabatic; c=
.
p/ j=sound speed)
Swinburne March 12 2007 8
Alfvn's Theorem: flux freezing
In Ideal MHD, the magnetic field and the
fluid are frozen together.
That is: two fluid elements originally connected by a field
line are always so connected.
So what?

If the field is very strong (<<1), plasma is


constrained to flow along it;

If the field is weak (>>1), it is advected


with the plasma.
Swinburne March 12 2007 9
Swinburne March 12 2007 10
Lorentz Force
jB =
1
j
(B) B
=
1
j
B B
B
2
2j
=
(
BB
j

B
2
2j
I
)
_
magnetic stress tensor

Stress:

tension along field lines B


2
/
isotropic pressure p
mag
= B
2
/2

j
Dv
Dt
=( p+p
mag
)+j g+
1
j
B B+viscous terms
Swinburne March 12 2007 11
Example 1

What do you
expect this to do?
or

Pressure pushing
away from high B.
B=( 0, e
x
2
, 0)
j=(0,0,2 x e
x
2
)/ j
jB=( 2x e
2x
2
, 0,0)/ j
B B=0 and B
2
/ 2j=(2xe
2x
2
, 0,0)/ j
jB=B B/ j B
2
/ 2j=( 2xe
2x
2
, 0,0)/ j
Swinburne March 12 2007 12
Example 2

And this?

or

Slingshot effect to the right!


important in flares and CMEs
B=( 2y , 1,0)
j=(0,0,2)/ j
j B=(2,4y , 0)/ j
B B=( 2,0,0)
B
2
=(0,8 y , 0)
So
1
j
BB
B
2
2j
=
(
2
j
, 0,0
)

(
0,
4y
j
, 0
)
Swinburne March 12 2007 13
Plasma beta

A simple measure of the relative


importance of the gas and magnetic
forces

If >> 1 the gas dominates (e.g. stellar


interiors)

If << 1 the magnetic field dominates (e.g.


stellar coronae)

If ~ 1 then get complicated interaction


of field & fluid (e.g. sunspots)
=
p
gas
p
mag
Swinburne March 12 2007 14
MHD Waves

All waves result from a restoring force

Sound waves are produced by compression


(gas pressure is restoring force)

Magneto-acoustic waves derive from gas


& magnetic pressure, and magnetic
tension

Alfvn waves produced by magnetic


tension only.
Swinburne March 12 2007 15
MHD Waves: Linear Theory
j
1
t
+j
0
v=0
j
0
v
t
= p
1
+
1
j
( b) B
0
p
1
t
=c
2
j
1
t
b
t
=(vB
0
)
Assume uniform medium, no gravity,
Set v=V exp[i(kr-t)] and similarly for p
1

etc, so and , to get
=i k / t =i o
o
2
V=c
2
k (kV )+
1
jj
0
( ((VB
0
)))B
0
Swinburne March 12 2007 16
Basic Waves: Revision

Circular Frequency
(radians per second)

Frequency =2
measured in Hz.

Period (seconds) =
1=2

Wave vector k specifies


the direction to
wavefronts

Wavelength =2|k|
k

Swinburne March 12 2007 17


Careful
Three velocities, all (generally) different:

Plasma velocity v

motion of the plasma itself

Phase velocity

velocity of the wave pattern

Group velocity

velocity of energy propagation


v
ph
=
o
k

k
v
gr
=
o
k
Swinburne March 12 2007 18
Sound Wave

Set B
0
= 0

Dot both sides with k to get dispersion


relation

Phase speed (pattern speed)

Group velocity (energy


propagation speed & direction)

Note: V 1 k, i.e., wave longitudinal


o
2
V=c
2
k ( kV )
o
2
=c
2
k
2
o
k
=!c
o
k
=c

k
Swinburne March 12 2007 19
Alfvn Wave

Driven purely by magnetic tension

Incompressive, i.e. v=0, i.e. kv=0, i.e.


transverse (like guitar string)

Then
where a
2
=B
2
/
0
defines the Alfvn speed a

Note: B
0
v=0, i.e. v to both B
0
and k
o
2
V=c
2
k ( kV ) +
1
jj
0
( ( (VB
0
))) B
0
i.e. o
2
V
2
=
( kB
0
)
2
jj
0
V
2
i.e. o
2
=a
2
k

2
Swinburne March 12 2007 20
Alfvn Wave

Phase speed where is the


angle between B and k
v
ph
=a for parallel propagation, 0 for
perpendicular!

Group velocity

i.e. energy travels directly along fieldlines at


speed a

Obvious! It's a tension driven wave.


o
k
=!a cos0
o
k
=!a

B
0
Swinburne March 12 2007 21
Swinburne March 12 2007 22
Magnetoacoustic Waves

Both pressures and magnetic tension

Dot with k and with B


0

Eliminate kV to get magnetoacoustic


dispersion relation
o
2
V =c
2
k( kV )+
1
jj
0
( ( (VB
0
))) B
0
=c
2
k( kV )+
1
jj
0
|
( kB
0
)
2
V( kB
0
)( kV) B
0
( kB
0
)(VB
0
) k+B
0
2
( kV ) k

| o
2
(a
2
+c
2
) k
2
kV+a
2
k
2
k

B
0
=0
c
2
k

kVo
2
V

B
0
=0
o
4
(a
2
+c
2
) k
2
o
2
+a
2
c
2
k
2
k

2
=0
Swinburne March 12 2007 23
Magnetoacoustic Waves

Solve biquadratic:

Two types of wave: fast & slow

NB: they involve both a & c


o
k
=
|
1
2
(a
2
+c
2
)!
.
(a
2
+c
2
)
2
4a
2
c
2
cos
2
0

1/ 2
fast
slow
Swinburne March 12 2007 24
Fast & Slow: Phase Speed
Phase polar diagrams

Phase speed depends on direction of k


k
k
Swinburne March 12 2007 25
Fast & Slow: Phase Speed

Phase speed depends on direction of k

Fast wave is fastest perpendicular to field


and slowest along it (why?)

in range (a
2
+c
2
)
1/2
/k max(a,c)

Slow wave is fastest along field lines

in range min(a,c) /k 0

The Alfvn wave is intermediate.


Swinburne March 12 2007 26
Fast & Slow: Group Speed
Group polar diagrams
Swinburne March 12 2007 27
Fast & Slow: Group Speed

Energy travels fastest across field lines


for fast wave

Slow wave energy transport along field


lines restricted to a cone about B

cone gets tighter as a/c departs further


from 1.
Swinburne March 12 2007 28
Q: How Many Wave Types?
A: Three Alfvn, fast, & slow (6
th
order
dispersion relation).

But what about the sound wave?

No! The sound wave is just a


magnetoacoustic wave (fast or slow
depending if c>a or a>c) travelling directly
along the field lines. Because it is
longitudinal, it does not bend or displace
them, so there is no magnetic effect.
Swinburne March 12 2007 29
Non-Ideal Effects

Magnetic reconnection

Solar corona (flares, CMEs)

massive source of energy

Earth's magnetosphere (interaction with


solar wind)

another day perhaps.


Swinburne March 12 2007 30
L
u
n
c
h
t
i
m
e
!

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