 Equal-density ion-neutral Alfvén dispersion relation

For equal ion and neutral mass densities, let $\mu ={\mu }_{in}={\mu }_{ni}$, $a=k_{\parallel }{B}_0/\sqrt{4\pi {\rho }_i}$ and use Fourier time dependence $e^{-i\omega t}$. Solenoidal displacements obey ${\ddot{\xi }}_i=-a^2{\xi }_i-\mu ({\dot{\xi }}_i-{\dot{\xi }}_n)$ and ${\ddot{\xi }}_n=-\mu ({\dot{\xi }}_n-{\dot{\xi }}_i)$. For nonzero frequency, the neutral equation gives ${\xi }_i=(1-i\omega /\mu ){\xi }_n$. Substitution in the ion equation givesEquivalently, the growth rate $s=-i\omega$ obeys $s^3+2\mu s^2+a^{2}s+\mu a^2=0$. A time-independent neutral displacement with zero velocity is a relabeling of a uniform fluid, not an additional wave root of the velocity/magnetic-field system.