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Plasma Density Fluctuations in a Magnetic Field
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 and be the ratio of the Debye length and of an electron gyroradius, respectively, to the wavelength . A general formula is derived for the frequency spectrum of these fluctuations for arbitrary values of , , and of the angle () 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 is assumed.
For large values of and most of the intensity occurs at small frequencies: If , the main spectrum is continuous as in the absence of a magnetic field; if , it consists of lines with spacing about the ion gyrofrequency; if , 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 , and the intensities of the various components are evaluated. For small , another spectral line is obtained at a "resonance" frequency intermediate between the electron and ion gyrofrequency.
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- [E. E. Salpeter, J. Geophys. Research (to be published)]
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