Magnetohydrodynamic waves in rotating liquids

Abstract

The directional distribution and attenuation of waves created by a harmonically oscillating point source placed at the axis OX of an incompressible, inviscid, unbounded, electrically conducting liquid has been studied by using a technique developed by Lighthill. The undisturbed motion of the liquid consists of a rigid rotation Ω about OX and a uniform velocity of translation U along OX in the presence of a uniform external magnetic field H₀ along OX. The effect of U is to make wave propagation asymmetrical with respect to x. The rotation causes radial expansion of the Alfven waves and the magnetic field produces a radial contraction of the Taylor waves. The interaction of U, Ω, H₀ and ω is the main theme of this paper. A novel feature of the interaction is the splitting of Taylor waves by the magnetic field.