Exact and approximate methods for Alfvén waves in dissipative atmospheres (Q1209941)

The author continues to study the problem of Alfvén waves in a dissipative atmosphere. An exact solution of the problem is obtained in terms of hypergeometric functions, showing existence of a critical level, separating regions of dominant viscous and resistive dissipation. These findings are then compared with those obtained by the phase mixing approximation method which shows disagreement between the exact and the approximate solutions. Thus the major conclusion of the author is that the phase mixing approximation method is not suitable for the study of Alfvén waves in a dissipative atmosphere. This is a very interesting paper which deals with a detailed mathematical analysis of the theory of Alfvén waves in a dissipative atmosphere. In addition to the exact solution at all altitudes including critical level, the author makes a comparison for weakly damped, high frequency far from the reflecting layer.