1942

Alfvén wave

• A magnetic field induces currents
• in a moving conductive fluid,
• which affect the magnetic field.
• These waves help explain
• the earth’s geomagnetic dynamo,
• the behaviors of the solar wind,
• and the sun’s magnetic fields.
• They help explain sunspots,
• solar flares, why the sun doesn’t spin
• in proportion to its mass,
• and why the sun’s corona
• is so much hotter than its surface.

Random waves

• Random motion
• in the convection zone
• of the sun produces
• waves that carry energy
• into the sun’s corona.
• We say it’s random,
• but what we mean
• is chaotic; we have
• no way to predict it;
• it’s too complex.
• Over a longer time,
• life is also “random,” that is,
• unpredictable, which
• doesn’t stop us from
• describing its side effects.

Not to be confused

• Alfvén, not elfin or elvish,
• not supernatural, fairy-like,
• impish, puckish, or mischievous.
• Similarly, not Alvin, the mischievous
• chimpmunk, although frequency
• has something to do with it.
• Frequently at a frequency
• orthogonal to our main direction,
• we push the possibilities.