Nonlinear dynamics of large-amplitude, small-scale Alfv\'en waves

Abstract

We study large-amplitude, very oblique Alfv\'en waves at low $\beta$, with small gradient length scales, comparable to the ion inertial scale $d_i$. Such waves have large density fluctuations, and slight dispersion from finite-frequency and finite ion sound radius effects. We derive a weakly nonlinear evolution equation governing the behaviour of the waves in one dimension, and categorize the different solitons appearing in different regimes: the regular solitons involve full rotations of the transverse magnetic field, similar to modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) solitons (our nonlinear equation reduces to the mKdV equation in the long-wavelength limit). However, for sufficiently small soliton widths, some become singular, small-amplitude solitons with density discontinuities, and are thus expected to become strongly dissipative in a real plasma. These solutions may be useful in explaining some aspects of the sharp, ion-scale magnetic field rotations (switchbacks) observed in the near-Sun solar wind by Parker Solar Probe.