Thermal overstability of hydromagnetic surface waves

Abstract

The authors investigate the effects of radiative heat losses and thermal conductivity on the hydromagnetic surface waves along a magnetic discontinuity in a plasma of infinite electrical conductivity. They show that the effects of radiative heat losses on such surface waves are appreciable only when values of the plasma pressure on the two sides of the discontinuity are substantially different. Overstability of a surface wave requires that the medium in which it gives larger first-order compression should satisfy the criterion of Field (1965). Possible applications of the study to magnetic discontinuities in solar corona are briefly discussed.