Induced magnetization of Alfven waves

Abstract

The induced magnetization of propagating and standing Alfven waves (IMPAW and IMSAW, respectively) in plasmas, due to the inverse Faraday effect, is investigated here. This effect follows from the magnetic moment per unit volume of the ordered motion of charges of both sign, in presence of an electromagnetic wave propagating parallel to an ambient magnetic field in the low frequency limit. Both IMPAW and IMSAW are found to be inversely proportional to the cube of the ambient field. These are expected to be significant in the study of physics of the sun and other stars, including pulsars, and in the programmes of RF heating of plasmas of tokamaks and other laboratory devices.