Modulation of waves due to charge-exchange collisions in magnetized partially ionized space plasma

Abstract

A nonlinear time dependent fluid simulation model is developed that describes the evolution of magnetohydrodynamic waves in the presence of collisional and charge exchange interactions of a partially ionized plasma. The partially ionized plasma consists of electrons, ions and a significant number of neutral atoms. In our model, the electrons and ions are described by a single fluid compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model and are coupled self-consistently to the neutral gas, described by the compressible hydrodynamic equations. Both the plasma and neutral fluids are treated with different energy equations that describe thermal energy exchange processes between them. Based on our self-consistent model, we find that propagating Alfv\'enic and fast/slow modes grow and damp alternately through a nonlinear modulation process. The modulation appears to be robust and survives strong damping by the neutral component.