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Alf·vén·ic | \ ¦al(f)-¦vā-nik 
, -¦ve-\
, -¦ve-\Definition of Alfvénic
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an Alfvén wave Alfvénic velocity In a magnetic nozzle the Alfvén speed plays a role similar to that of the sound speed in a conventional nozzle. The transition from sub-Alfvénic to super-Alfvénic flow delineates a boundary beyond which the flow downstream has no effect upstream—which ensures that the detachment exerts no drag on the rocket.— Franklin R. Chang Díaz, Scientific American, November 2000
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