PROPAGATION OF 3-DIMENSIONAL ALFVEN WAVES IN A STRATIFIED, THERMALLY CONDUCTING SOLAR-WIND

We model the propagation of three-dimensional, adiabatic, linear Alfve n waves in the solar atmosphere and wind, taking into account relevant physical effects, including gravity stratification, thermal conductio n, radiative losses, and heating (via a phenomenological term). Our ma gnetohydrodynamic solar wind model also accounts for the momentum depo sition by a spectrum of non-WKB Alfven waves. The transmission and ref lection of such waves has been previously studied by a variety of tech niques, including calculations based on the computation of the ratio b etween the wavelength and the scale length of the Alfven speed change and based on a globally - computed transmission coefficient. In this p aper we discuss both techniques and show how they are related. We also discuss the physics underlying the reflection process and the possibl e role wave reflection might play in the acceleration of the solar win d and the winds from other stars.