Waves in a magnetically structured slab configuration

Abstract

The problem of wave-propagation in a magnetically structured compressible slab configuration is investigated, allowing for different magnetic field strengths inside and outside the slab and also a general orientation of the field vectors relative to each other and to the propagation vector. Several magnetic field geometries such as equal parallel, and equal orthogonal fields are considered. Properties of body and surface waves both for symmetric and asymmetric modes of perturbation propagating along and normal to the slab field are investigated idealising the slab to be incompressible, or considering the limiting case of wide and slender compressible slab. Numerical results are also obtained for a compressible slab of finite thickness for a specific choice of sound and Alfvén speeds involved.