Alfvén Velocity Calculator
Find the Alfvén wave speed in a magnetized plasma.
Alfvén waves travel along magnetic field lines in a plasma; this finds their speed.
The math behind it
vₐ = B ÷ √(μ₀·ρ), where μ₀ is the vacuum permeability and ρ the plasma mass density.
Worked example
B = 1×10⁻⁴ T, ρ = 1×10⁻⁷ kg/m³ → ≈ 282 km/s.
FAQ
Where do Alfvén waves occur?
In the Sun's corona, the solar wind and laboratory plasmas.