Absorption of nearly perpendicularly propagating waves in the second harmonic layer

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864917· OSTI ID:5746520

Imre, K; Weitzner, H

Propagation of waves nearly perpendicular to the equilibrium magnetic field and incident to the second electron-cyclotron harmonic layer is investigated in an inhomogeneous weakly relativistic plasma. The resonance region is treated by a boundary layer analysis, and the solutions are matched to the geometrical optics solutions outside the layer. This approach allows one to investigate the transmission, mode coupling, reflection, absorption, and the effects of relativistic broadening. This work extends a previous investigation with the purely perpendicular propagation. It is shown that the mode conversion and reflection rapidly cease to be of importance outside a narrow propagation cone as the doppler broadening becomes predominant. The geometrical optics approach, which breaks down in the purely perpendicular propagation, then becomes valid. It is also shown that the transmission coefficient and the reflection from the high-field side incidence are not altered within this cone.

• Research Organization: Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York 10012
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER03077
• OSTI ID: 5746520
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 28:6; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ABSORPTION
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
COUPLING
CYCLOTRON HARMONICS
ENERGY ABSORPTION
EQUILIBRIUM
HARMONICS
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
LAYERS
LINE BROADENING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
REFLECTION
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RESONANCE
TRANSMISSION
WAVE PROPAGATION