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Write $u=u_x$ and $B=B_z$. In this geometry the Lorentz force density is purely longitudinal and equals $-{\partial }_x(B^2/2{\mu }_0){\mathbf{e}}_x$. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation becomes $B_t+{\partial }_x(uB)=0$. Together with the continuity equation and adiabatic pressure evolution, the four primitive-variable equations areThey have the required quasilinear form ${\mathbf{U}}_t+A{\mathbf{U}}_x=0$ withHere the notation $u_x$ in derivatives means ${\partial }_{x}u$, whereas $u$ denotes the longitudinal velocity. Spatial dependence is one-dimensional; time dependence is allowed in the wave problem.

Put $c_f^2=\gamma p/\rho +B^2/({\mu }_0\rho )$, and assume $\rho >0$ and $c_f>0$. Expansion of the characteristic polynomial givesTwo independent eigenvectors for ${\lambda }_0$ can be chosen as $(1,0,0,0{)}^T$ and $(0,-B/{\mu }_0,0,1{)}^T$. For the two propagating branches, useful eigenvectors areThe repeated branch advects an entropy disturbance and a disturbance with unchanged total gas-plus-magnetic pressure. The $\pm$ branches are perpendicular fast magnetosonic waves, with speed $c_f$ relative to the fluid.

On a uniform background, a Fourier amplitude $\hat{\mathbf{U}}{e}^{i(kx-\omega t)}$ obeys $(kA-\omega I)\hat{\mathbf{U}}=0$. Thus the eigenvalues are the phase velocities $\omega /k$ for $k\ne 0$, and the four dispersion branches are $\omega =ku$ twice and $\omega =k(u\pm c_f)$. The reduced geometry retains neither an independent transverse velocity nor an additional propagating Alfvén wave.

To construct each finite-amplitude simple wave in magnetohydrodynamics, trace a state-space curve with tangent $r_{\pm }$, using $\rho$ as its parameter. Integrating the pressure and magnetic components givesThe constants $K$ and $b$ are the entropy and transverse magnetic flux freezing invariants along this state curve. HenceSince $A{\mathbf{U}}_{\rho }={\lambda }_{\pm }{\mathbf{U}}_{\rho }$, substituting this curve into the original system reduces it to ${\rho }_t+{\lambda }_{\pm }(\rho ){\rho }_x=0$. By the chain rule,Thus the characteristic speed itself satisfies the Inviscid Burgers equation. For initial speed $L(a)$, its smooth solution is ${\lambda }_{\pm }=L(a)$ along $x=a+tL(a)$, until the characteristic curves intersect. This derivation supplies genuine state curves for simple waves, not merely a linear dispersion relation.

Write $\mathbf{u}={\partial }_t\mathbf{\xi }$. In the uniform equilibrium, the linearized ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations reduce toIntegrating from the undisplaced reference state, and using the uniform background magnetic field, givesThese are the perturbations induced by the fluid displacement; independent time-independent changes to the reference state are excluded. The linear Lorentz force density is $(\nabla \times \delta \mathbf{B})\times \mathbf{B}/{\mu }_0$. Its magnetic pressure and magnetic tension parts giveFor a Fourier mode, put $s=\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{\xi }$, $q=\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{\xi }$ and $K=\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{B}$. Then $\delta p=-i\gamma ps$ and $\delta \mathbf{B}=i(K\mathbf{\xi }-\mathbf{B}s)$. Substitution givesIf $s=q=0$, the fluid displacement is perpendicular to both the wave vector and the magnetic field. Only magnetic tension restores it, andThis is the Alfvén wave. The Alfvén velocity is the field-directed propagation vector: $\omega =\pm \mathbf{k}\cdot {\mathbf{v}}_a$. The signed phase velocity normal to the wavefront is $\pm v_a\cos \theta \hat{\mathbf{k}}$; the group velocity is $\pm {\mathbf{v}}_a$. The distinction matters for oblique propagation. For generic directions the Alfvén wave has one transverse polarization, with $\delta \rho =\delta p=0$.

To obtain the other magnetohydrodynamic waves, take the scalar products with $\mathbf{k}$ and $\mathbf{B}$:The determinant condition for a nonzero pair $(s,q)$ isThus the fast magnetosonic wave and slow magnetosonic wave haveTheir fluid displacements lie in the plane of $\mathbf{k}$ and $\mathbf{B}$ and are generally compressive. In the fast magnetosonic wave, gas and magnetic pressure provide the stronger restoring combination; in the slow magnetosonic wave, their perturbations oppose one another. The phase speeds depend on direction. They satisfy $v_{\mathrm{sl}}\le \min (c_s,v_a)$ and $v_{\mathrm{f}}\ge \max (c_s,v_a)$. For parallel propagation the two speeds are $c_s$ and $v_a$, with a degeneracy between a transverse branch and the Alfvén wave. For perpendicular propagation $v_{\mathrm{f}}^2=c_s^2+v_a^2$ and $v_{\mathrm{sl}}=0$; the latter is a nonpropagating limiting disturbance. These special directions require interpreting the polarizations by continuity rather than assuming three distinct nonzero frequencies.

For this geometry $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{u}=0$, $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$ and $\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla =0$. Consequently constant mass density and pressure satisfy the full nonlinear continuity and adiabatic pressure equations. Write ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }=(B_x,B_y)$ and ${\mathbf{u}}_{\perp }=(u_x,u_y)$. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation and the transverse ideal magnetohydrodynamic momentum equation becomeThe longitudinal momentum equation isThus constant transverse magnetic magnitude eliminates the otherwise unavoidable magnetic pressure acceleration. Differentiating the ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation in time gives, for either transverse component,A constant-magnitude nonlinear Alfvén wave is obtained by taking $B_z\ne 0$ andwhere $A$ and ${\mathbf{U}}_0$ are constants and $F$ is any sufficiently differentiable real function. Both first-order equations hold, and $B_x^2+B_y^2=A^2$. Taking $F(\zeta )=k\zeta$ gives an exact finite-amplitude circularly polarized wave. More general traveling rotations also work; an arbitrary superposition of oppositely traveling solutions of the wave equation need not preserve transverse magnetic magnitude and hence need not solve the full nonlinear system. If $B_z=0$, the coupled first-order equations instead require time-independent transverse fields and velocities, with spatially constant transverse magnetic magnitude; there is no propagating Alfvén wave in the $z$ direction.

In the local short-wavelength approximation, derivatives of the slowly varying coefficients are smaller than derivatives of the phase. For the perturbation $v{e}^{i(\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{r}-\omega t)}$, replace ${\partial }_t$ by $-i\omega$ and ${\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla$ by $i\mathbf{k}\cdot {\mathbf{B}}_p$ in the torsional Alfvén wave equation. Cancel the common nonzero amplitude and $R^2$ to obtainThus the local dispersion relation is an Alfvén wave relation with Alfvén velocity ${\mathbf{v}}_{A,p}={\mathbf{B}}_p/\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }$. The approximation requires wavelength small compared with the background variation scales. A wave vector exactly perpendicular to ${\mathbf{B}}_p$ gives zero leading frequency, so cannot simultaneously obey the assumed large-frequency limit.

Take the primitive state vector $\mathbf{U}=(\rho ,p,u_x,u_y,u_z,B_x,B_y,B_z{)}^T$, with $\rho >0$. In the absence of gravity, the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations are first order: expanding the material derivatives, pressure gradient and Lorentz force makes every term linear in a spatial derivative of $\mathbf{U}$, with coefficients depending on $\mathbf{U}$. Dividing momentum balance by $\rho$ therefore gives a quasilinear partial differential equation system ${\partial }_t\mathbf{U}+A_i(\mathbf{U}){\partial }_i\mathbf{U}=0$ with eight-by-eight matrices. The solenoidal magnetic-field constraint is an additional constraint on initial data; the ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation preserves it because the divergence of a curl vanishes.

For a one-dimensional simple wave in magnetohydrodynamics, write $\mathbf{U}=\mathbf{U}(q(x,t))$ with a nonzero state-space tangent. Substitution gives ${\mathbf{U}}_q{q}_t+A_x{\mathbf{U}}_q{q}_x=0$. A nonconstant profile requires the tangent to be a right eigenvector of $A_x$:The chain rule then gives the wave-speed equation:This is the Inviscid Burgers equation, including the special case of constant $v$. Its characteristic curves are $x=a+v_0(a)t$, with $v=v_0(a)$. As long as the mapping remains invertible,Thus a region with $v_0^{\prime }<0$ steepens: faster characteristics catch slower ones, and the first gradient catastrophe occurs at $t_{\ast }=-1/{\min }_a{v}_0^{\prime }(a)$ when the minimum is negative. A genuinely nonlinear compressive simple wave therefore forms a shock wave. Rarefactive profiles can spread instead; steepening is not inevitable for every initial profile.

To continue past this time, use weak solutions of the conservative mass, momentum, fluid total-energy equation and ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation. The Rankine-Hugoniot conditions fix the jumps and shock velocity, while physical entropy production selects admissible magnetohydrodynamic shocks. Diffusive shock wave layers are replaced by moving discontinuities, so their microscopic structure need not be explicitly resolved. In particular, the smooth adiabatic pressure equation must be replaced by total-energy conservation when imposing the ideal magnetohydrodynamic shock conditions.

For the Alfvén waves, impose the one-dimensional solenoidal magnetic-field constraint, so $B_x$ is constant and $\delta B_x=0$. Put ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }=(B_y,B_z)$ and $c=v-u_x$. The transverse components of the linearized ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations giveThe longitudinal momentum equation additionally gives $\delta p+{\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }\cdot \delta {\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }/{\mu }_0=0$. The Alfvén eigenvectors have $\delta \rho =\delta p=\delta u_x=0$, hence their transverse polarization is perpendicular to ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }$. For $s=\pm 1$, their speed and explicit right Alfvén characteristic eigenvectors areFor ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }\ne 0$ one may choose $(h_y,h_z)=(B_z,-B_y)$, up to a nonzero scalar factor. If ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }=0$, either transverse polarization is allowed and this characteristic speed is degenerate. These expressions describe the two propagating Alfvén branches for $B_x\ne 0$; if $B_x=0$, they coalesce with advected, nonpropagating transverse disturbances.

Integrating along an Alfvén simple wave leaves $\rho ,p,u_x,B_x$ unchanged and gives $d{\mathbf{u}}_{\perp }=-sd{\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }/\sqrt{{\mu }_0\rho }$ and ${\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }\cdot d{\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }=0$. Consequently the finite-amplitude nonlinear Alfvén wave relations areThe constant-magnitude condition is essential: otherwise a varying magnetic pressure would drive longitudinal compression. An arbitrary smooth phase profile gives an explicit family, $f_3=B_{\perp }\cos \Theta (x-v_{s}t)$ and $f_4=B_{\perp }\sin \Theta (x-v_{s}t)$, with $f_1,f_2$ as above. Direct substitution in the transverse momentum and ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation gives $(u_x-v_s){\mathbf{u}}_{\perp }^{\prime }=B_x{\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }^{\prime }/({\mu }_0\rho )$ and $(u_x-v_s){\mathbf{B}}_{\perp }^{\prime }=B_x{\mathbf{u}}_{\perp }^{\prime }$, confirming the solution without relying on the eigenvector argument. Longitudinal momentum holds because $p+B_{\perp }^2/(2{\mu }_0)$ is constant. The speed $v_s$ is independent of amplitude along this family: these linearly degenerate characteristic fields translate without steepening.

A displacement perpendicular to the plane spanned by $\mathbf{k}$ and $\mathbf{B}$ has $\mathbf{k}\cdot \tilde{\mathbf{\xi }}={\mathbf{v}}_A\cdot \tilde{\mathbf{\xi }}=0$. The algebraic wave equation then gives the Alfvén waveThe remaining displacement lies in the $\mathbf{k}$-$\mathbf{B}$ plane. Setting the determinant of that two-dimensional system to zero givesIts larger root is the fast magnetosonic wave, in which gas and magnetic pressure act together. Its smaller root is the slow magnetosonic wave, whose motion is guided more strongly along the field. Both are compressive, whereas the Alfvén mode is transverse and incompressible.

The high-pressure limit of the slow magnetosonic wave approaches an incompressible polarization in the plane of the background magnetic field and wavevector, perpendicular to the latter. It has the displayed leading dispersion relation, the same as the out-of-plane Alfvén wave. Magnetic tension is the restoring force, and pressure balances the compressive component of the magnetic force. In exactly incompressible homogeneous ideal magnetohydrodynamics it is one of the two transverse magnetic polarizations.

With aligned uniform magnetic field and rotation, pressure projection couples the two incompressible transverse wave polarization states at rate ${\omega }_I\sim 2\Omega |k_{\parallel }|/k_{\perp }$. Each nonrotating Alfvén wave has rate ${\omega }_A=|k_{\parallel }|v_A$. Their ratio is independent of the anisotropy. Leading finite-timescale decoupling therefore needs $k_{\perp }{v}_A\gg 2\Omega$, with rotational coupling also slow relative to any retained nonlinear evolution. At finite amplitude the usual anisotropic reduction still permits passive advection of pseudo-Alfvénic fluctuations by the Alfvénic subsystem; removing rotational mixing does not eliminate that one-way interaction. Because the two Alfvén polarizations are degenerate, weak coupling can still mix them over the longer time ${\omega }_I^{-1}$.

For fixed real positive angular frequency $\omega$, a transverse Alfvén wave proportional to $e^{i(kz-\omega t)}$ in a uniform fluid has $k^2={\omega }^2/(v_A^2-i{\eta }_m\omega )$ when magnetic diffusivity ${\eta }_m$ is retained and viscosity is neglected. Choose the branch with positive real and imaginary parts for propagation and attenuation along $+z$. For $ϵ\ll 1$, $k=(\omega /v_A)(1+iϵ/2+O({ϵ}^2))$. The amplitude attenuation length is $L_A=1/\mathrm{Im}k$, whereas the energy attenuation length is $L_E=1/(2\mathrm{Im}k)$. With wavelength $\lambda =2\pi /\mathrm{Re}k$, $L_A/\lambda \sim 1/(\pi ϵ)$ and $L_E/\lambda \sim 1/(2\pi ϵ)$. Fixed-real-wavenumber temporal Resistive damping of an Alfvén wave is a different boundary-value prescription.

A torsional Alfvén wave couples azimuthal velocity to a toroidal magnetic field around a fixed poloidal magnetic field. Axisymmetric induction gives ${\partial }_t{B}_{\varphi }=R{\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla \Omega$ and magnetic tension gives $\rho R^2{\mu }_0{\partial }_t\Omega ={\mathbf{B}}_p\cdot \nabla (R{B}_{\varphi })$. Their combination is the displayed wave equation. Its local dispersion relation is ${\omega }^2=(\mathbf{k}\cdot {\mathbf{B}}_p{)}^2/({\mu }_0\rho )$.