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Topological constraints on solar loop plasma instabilities and Alfvén waves

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Garcia de Andrade L.

Open Physics

2009

vol. 7

issue 1

130-134

Inhomogeneous plasmas-solar instabilities-are investigated by using the techniques of classical differential geometry for curves, where the Frenet torsion and curvature describe completely the motion of a curve. In our case, the Frenet frame changes in time and also depends upon the other coordinates, taking into account the inhomogeneity of the plasma. The exponential perturbation method, so commonly used to describe cosmological perturbations, is applied to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasma equations to find modes describing Alfvén wave propagation in the medium of planar loops. Stability is investigated in the imaginary axis of the spectra of complex frequencies ω, i.e. $$ \Im $$ m (ω) ≠ 0. A pratical guide for experimental solar physicists is given by computing the twist of force-free solar loops, which generalizes the Parker formula relating the twist to the Frenet torsion. In our expression the twist of the solar loops also depends on the abnormality of the normal vector of the frame.

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1 Garcia de Andrade L.

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Topological constraints on solar loop plasma instabilities and Alfvén waves