HEATING OF PLASMA BY ALFVEN WAVES ENVELOPE

Alfven waves are investigated including dissipation (resistivity, visc osity) and the Hall effect (dispersion), searching for the dominant no nlinear effects. First a modulational instability arises, which heats the plasma and causes a soliton envelope to develop. Both the stationa ry and nonstationary soliton envelopes were studied For certain condit ions shock waves are generated. Finally the emission of ion-sound wave s by the accelerated soliton envelope in inhomogeneous plasma is discu ssed.