DISPERSION OF WAVES IN HOT PLASMAS
Abstract
The propagation characteristics of small-amplitude waves in hot plasmas are discussed assuming specific functional forms for the equilibrium distributions. The space-time behavior of initial density perturbations (acoustic mode) is analyzed, including second-order effects, using a one-dimensional Cauchy velocity distribution. For the acoustic mode, the initial density perturbation of the plasma is assumed to be sinusoidal in space. The first-order solution has an exact analytic form which gives damped oscillations at a thermally shifted plasma frequency. The thermal damping is similar to that originally obtained by Landau. The nonrelativistic dispersion equation for the longitudinal extraordinary mode is solved for all frequencies including cyclotron resonance. Solutions of the dispersion equation for a relativistic plasma are calculated at certain frequencies, and the qualitative behavior of the index of refraction is clearly evident from these specific results. Relativistic effects are found to lower the cyclotron resonance and the frequency at which the index vanishes. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0282740
Entities
People
- Harold B. Liemohn
Organizations
- Boeing