Visualizing Alfven Waves in a Spherical Galaxy

[sparkle123]

Hello,

What do Alfven waves look like?
Say you have a spherical galaxy. What would the Alfven waves of the three lowest frequencies look like? I read that they are transverse waves but I can't visualize a spherical transverse wave.

Thanks! :)

 

[Bobbywhy]

I doubt that anyone could see an Alfven wave. If that is so, how could anyone answer "What do Alfven waves look like?"

From Wikipedia: "An Alfvén wave in a plasma is a low-frequency traveling oscillation of the ions and the magnetic field. The ion mass density provides the inertia and the magnetic field line tension provides the restoring force."

What "three lowest frequencies" are you referring to? Can you please post your source or reference for this?

Regarding you question about "a spherical transverse wave", please see this, also from Wiki:

"The wave propagates in the direction of the magnetic field, although waves exist at oblique incidence and smoothly change into the magnetosonic wave when the propagation is perpendicular to the magnetic field. The motion of the ions and the perturbation of the magnetic field are in the same direction and transverse to the direction of propagation. The wave is dispersionless."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfvén_wave

 

[sparkle123]

Thanks Bobbywhy!