Abstract
Table 1.1 shows that the cosmic media can have very different properties as their parameters vary within exceptionally broad ranges. In particular, the gas ionization can vary from almost zero (neutral media, e.g., clouds of cold neutral hydrogen) to almost unity (fully ionized plasma). It is worthwhile, therefore, to start with a simpler case of equation set for the neutral gas. We assume that the reader is familiar with the hydrodynamics (HD) fundamentals, so we just remind the equations and briefly discuss the meaning of the terms entering them without going into the detail too deeply. The relation of HD to the kinetic theory has been outlined in Sect. 1.3.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The term GD is more appropriate in our case because the astrophysical media represent typically a gas (neutral or ionized) phase rather than a fluid, which would imply use of the term “hydro” (water).
- 2.
It must be noted that such hydrostatic equilibrium is not necessarily stable: for example, it can be convectively unstable if the temperature gradient is large; see Chaps. 6.
- 3.
The model considered here was proposed by Parker (1959) to describe the interplanetary magnetic field produced by the solar plasma flows composing the solar wind.
References
A.I. Akhiezer, I.A. Akhiezer, R.V. Polovin, A.G. Sitenko, K.N. Stepanov, Plasma Electrodynamics. Volume 1-Linear Theory, Volume 2-Non-Linear Theory and Fluctuations (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1975)
M.J. Aschwanden,Physics of the Solar Corona. An Introduction with Problems and Solutions, 2nd edn. (Springer, Berlin, 2005)
V.B. Baranov, K.V. Krasnobaev, Hydrodynamic theory of a cosmic plasma [in Russian]. (Moscow Izdatel Nauka, Moscow, 1977)
L. Biermann, Kometenschweife und solare Korpuskularstrahlung. Z. Astrophys. 29, 274 (1951)
L. Biermann, Über den Schweif des Kometen Halley im Jahre 1910. Zeitschrift Naturforschung Teil A7, 127 (1952)
J.C. Brandt,Emissions from the Sun. Introduction to the Solar Wind (W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 1970)
J.C. Brandt, S.R. Harrington, R.G. Roosen, Interplanetary gas. XIX. Observational evidence for a meridional solar-wind flow diverging from the plane of the solar equator. ApJ 184, 27–32 (1973)
D.E. Gary, C.U. Keller (eds.), Solar and space weather radiophysics - current status and future developments, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol. 314 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2004)
A.J. Hundhausen, Coronal Expansion and Solar Wind (Springer, Berlin, 1972)
R. Kippenhahn, A. Schlüter, Eine Theorie der solaren Filamente. Mit 7 Textabbildungen. Z. Astrophys.43, 36 (1957)
L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz, Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1960)
L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz,Hydrodynamik (Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, 1966)
T.A. Lozinskaya, Supernovae and Stellar Wind in the Interstellar Medium (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1992)
E. Marsch, H. Rosenbauer, R. Schwenn, K.H. Muehlhaeuser, F.M. Neubauer, Solar wind helium ions - observations of the HELIOS solar probes between 0.3 and 1 AU. Journ. Geo. Res. 87, 35–51 (1982a)
E. Marsch, R. Schwenn, H. Rosenbauer, K.H. Muehlhaeuser, W. Pilipp, F.M. Neubauer, Solar wind protons - three-dimensional velocity distributions and derived plasma parameters measured between 0.3 and 1 AU. Journ. Geo. Res. 87, 52–72 (1982b)
E. Parker, Extension of the solar corona into interplanetary space. Journ. Geo. Res. 64, 1675–1681 (1959)
E.N. Parker, Interplanetary Dynamical Processes (Interscience, New York, 1963)
E.N. Parker,Cosmical Magnetic Fields: Their Origin and Their Activity (Clarendon Press, Oxford, Oxford University Press, New York, 1979)
B.V. Somov, Plasma Astrophysics, Part I: Fundamentals and Practice (Springer, New York, 2006)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fleishman, G.D., Toptygin, I.N. (2013). Magnetohydrodynamics of the Cosmic Plasma. In: Cosmic Electrodynamics. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 388. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5782-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5782-4_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5781-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5782-4
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)