High frequency electromagnetic modes in a weakly magnetized relativistic electron plasma

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3460345· OSTI ID:21389095

Abbas, Gohar; Murtaza, G ^[1]; Kingham, R J ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, G. C. University, Lahore 54000 (Pakistan)
2. Plasma Physics Group, Imperial College, Blackett Laboratory, London SW7 2AZ (United Kingdom)

Using the linearized Vlasov-Maxwell model, the polarization tensor for a weakly magnetized electron plasma is derived. For isotropic relativistic Maxwellian velocity distribution function, dispersion relations are obtained for both parallel and perpendicular propagations. The integrals (called Meijer G functions) that arise due to relativistic effects are examined in various limits and dispersion relations are derived for the nonrelativistic, weakly, strongly, and ultrarelativistic Maxwellian velocity distributions. It is generally observed that the propagation domains of the modes are enlarged as one proceeds from the nonrelativistic to the highly relativistic regime. Resultantly, due to the relativistic effects, the Whistler mode is suppressed in the R-wave, the nonpropagation band of X-mode is reduced, and the X-mode itself approaches the O-mode. Further, the results derived in the ultra- and nonrelativistic limits found to be in agreement with the earlier calculations [G. Abbas et al. Phys. Scr. 76, 649 (2007); F. F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (Plenum, New York, 1984), Vol. 1].

• OSTI ID: 21389095
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
LEPTONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
VELOCITY
WHISTLER INSTABILITY