Mode Coupling in the Solar Corona. V. Reduction of the Coupled Equations

Abstract

A simplified version of the mode-coupling theory of Clemmow and Heading is developed by reducing the set of coupled equations to two for the magnetoionic theory and three for the MHD theory. The simplified theory reproduces known results for coupling in the neighbourhood of coupling points. It is used to treat coupling between the MHD waves, and it is found that coupling between the fast mode and the Alfven mode for VA ;?; C, is stronger than the coupling between any other pair of modes. The strongest coupling of all is between the Alfven and slow (magnetoacoustic) modes for VA ~ C,.