Magnetic field generation via resonant absorption

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Abstract
A simple equation is derived describing the generation of the quasi‐steady magnetic field by resonant absorption in a cold, collisionless plasma. An initial value problem is solved to ascertain the explicit time behavior of the high frequency fields due to resonant absorption. These fields are employed to obtain a fully analytic expression for the quasi‐steady magnetic field. Expressions are also presented for the saturated magnetic field based on saturation times for the high frequency fields appropriate to plasma wave convection or wavebreaking. Modifications of the magnetic field structure due to plasma wave propagation are also calculated and the magnetic field is seen to convect with the plasma wave.