Generation of short-lived large-amplitude magnetohydrodynamic pulses by dispersive focusing

Large-amplitude MHD waves are routinely observed in space plasmas. We suggest that dispersive focusing, previously proposed for the excitation of freak waves in the ocean, can be also responsible for the excitation of short-lived large-amplitude MHD waves in space plasmas. The DNLS equation describes MHD waves propagating in plasmas at moderate angles with respect to the equilibrium magnetic field. We obtained an analytical solution of the linearised DNLS equation governing the generation of large-amplitude MHD waves from small-amplitude wave trains due to the dispersive focusing. Our numerical solutions of the full DNLS equation confirm this result. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.