Weakly nonlinear magnetosonic waves and structure of low-intensity discontinuities in magnetohydrodynamics

Mathematical techniques are proposed which make it possible to reduce the system of magnetohydrodynamic equations for a viscous heat-conducting gas with finite electric conductivity and a general equation of state to the model Burgers equation. On the basis of this equation the structure of weakly nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic shock waves is studied. In particular, the width of the shock wave is estimated.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No.4, pp. 43–48, May–June, 1993.