Oblique interaction of an Alfvén discontinuity and a fast magnetohydrodynamic shock wave propagating in opposite directions

The problem of the regular oblique interaction of a plane-polarized Alfvén discontinuity and a fast magnetohydrodynamic shock wave propagating in opposite directions is solved numerically within the framework of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic model over a wide range of the key parameters. The wave pattern of the developing flow is found and the properties of the flow are studied. In particular, the dependence of the wave composition forming the flow is mapped as a function of the key parameters. With the variation of the problem parameters the developing flow is qualitatively reconstructed, possibly suddenly (jumpwise). This leads to a complex nonmonotonic dependence of the physical characteristics of the flow. © 1997 Plenum Publishing Corporation.