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Plasma Density Fluctuations in a Magnetic Field

E. E. Salpeter*

  • Laboratory of Nuclear Studies and Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York and School of Physics, Sydney University, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia

  • *Permanent address: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Phys. Rev. 122, 1663 – Published 15 June, 1961

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.122.1663

Abstract

Sinusoidal electron charge density fluctuations with propagation vector k are considered for a fully ionized gas in complete thermodynamic equilibrium in a constant magnetic field. Let α and ε be the ratio of the Debye length and of an electron gyroradius, respectively, to the wavelength k1. A general formula is derived for the frequency spectrum of these fluctuations for arbitrary values of α, ε, and of the angle (φ12π) between k and the magnetic field. The dispersion relation implied by this expression has been obtained previously by Gross and by Bernstein, but the method of derivation is different. A very small electron-ion mass ratio mM is assumed.

For large values of ε and α most of the intensity occurs at small frequencies: If sinφ(mM)12ε, the main spectrum is continuous as in the absence of a magnetic field; if (mM)12sinφ(mM)12ε, it consists of lines with spacing about the ion gyrofrequency; if sinφ(mM)12, it consists mainly of a line at zero frequency. Weaker spectral lines are obtained which correspond to plasma oscillations, the existence of "frequency gaps" is confirmed for small angles φ, and the intensities of the various components are evaluated. For small φ, another spectral line is obtained at a "resonance" frequency intermediate between the electron and ion gyrofrequency.

References (14)

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  2. K. Bowles, National Bureau of Standards Report No. 6070, 1959 (unpublished)
  3. W. E. Gordon, Proc. I. R. E. 46, 1824 (1958)
  4. V. C. Pineo, L. G. Kraft, and H. W. Briscoe, J. Geophys. Research 65, 1620 (1960)
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  6. I. B. Bernstein, Phys. Rev. 109, 10 (1958)
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  8. L. OsterTrans. Am. Inst. Elec. Engrs. 60, 135 (1941)
  9. T. Laaspere, Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University, 1960 (unpublished)
  10. G. N. Watson, A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1952), Chap. 8
  11. Omitted endnote

  12. Omitted endnote

  13. [E. E. Salpeter, J. Geophys. Research (to be published)]
  14. Omitted endnote

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