Generation of density inhomogeneities by magnetohydrodynamic waves in two dimensions

Using 2D simulations, we study the formation of structures with a high-density contrast by magnetohydrodynamic waves in regions in which the ratio of thermal to magnetic pressure is small. The initial state is a uniform background perturbed by fast-mode wave. Our most significant result is that dense structures persist for far longer in a 2D simulation than in the 1D case. Once formed, these structures persist as long as the fast-mode amplitude remains high.