  The influence of various kinetic effects (e.g. Landau damping, diffusive and
collisional dissipation, and finite Larmor radius terms) on the nonlinear
evolution of finite amplitude Alfvenic wave trains in a finite-beta environment
is systematically investigated using a novel, kinetic nonlinear Schrodinger
(KNLS) equation. The dynamics of Alfven waves is sensitive to the sense of
polarization as well as the angle of propagation with respect to the ambient
magnetic field. Numerical solution for the case with Landau damping reveals the
formation of dissipative structures, which are quasi-stationary, S-polarized
directional (and rotational) discontinuities which self-organize from parallel
propagating, linearly polarized waves. Parallel propagating circularly
polarized packets evolve to a few circularly polarized Alfven harmonics on
large scales. Stationary arc-polarized rotational discontinuities form from
obliquely propagating waves. Collisional dissipation, even if weak, introduces
enhanced wave damping when beta is very close to unity. Cyclotron motion
effects on resonant particle interactions introduce cyclotron resonance into
the nonlinear Alfven wave dynamics.

Plasma Physics;Adaptation, Noise, and Self-Organizing Systems;Astrophysics;Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems;Pattern Formation and Solitons;Pattern Formation and Solitons;Space Physics