Collisionless Damping of Low-Frequency Magnetosonic Pulses in a Two-Ion-Species Plasma

Low-frequency mangnetosonic pulses in a two-ion-species plasma are studied theoretically and by simulation with a one-dimensional electromagnetic simulation code based on a three-fluid model, with particular attention to the dynamics of minority heavy ions. It is found that heavy ions can gain some energy from the pulses. Because of this energy transfer, the pulses are damped even if the plasma is collisionless and pulse propagation is perpendicular to the magnetic field.