Alfvén

Alfvén waves are a type of magnetic wave that move through a conducting fluid like plasma, which is a hot, ionized gas. Imagine magnetic field lines as elastic strings; disturbances cause these lines to ripple, transferring energy along the magnetic field. These waves are important in space and astrophysics because they help explain how energy moves within the Sun, planets, and the solar wind. In essence, Alfvén waves are magnetic disturbances that travel along magnetic field lines, playing a key role in the dynamics of plasmas in space environments.