Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/iii/paper-75/1/2/solution

Linearize about zero bulk flow and the uniform guide field. Put , and take plane waves proportional to . Let , , , and
Both and are perpendicular to . Projecting momentum onto that plane eliminates total pressure. The remaining magnetic-tension term gives
In the induction equation, the Hall contribution is ; its two derivative factors of in the Fourier mode produce a positive coefficient multiplying . Thus
Eliminating gives
On the transverse plane, , so applying that operator again proves the incompressible Hall-MHD wave dispersion:
Equivalently, in a helicity decomposition of a transverse Fourier mode with , , each polarization obeys . For the projected linear restoring terms vanish and these modes have zero frequency; the propagating calculation assumes .

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