Further observations on resonance cones in non-Maxwellian plasmas
Abstract
Resonance cones in a hot magnetized non-Maxwellian plasma are investigated. The non-Maxwellian nature of the plasma is described by two electron populations: a background population and an electron beam with variable beam parameters. It is shown that the Cerenkov cone occurs at angles much smaller than the group velocity cone angle θc for the lower branch of the oblique resonance cone irrespective of the magnitude of the biasing magnetic field. When the beam velocity is sufficiently large with respect to the thermal velocity of the background electrons, a characteristic wave pattern appears outside the resonance cones. It is shown that this pattern occurs because of a propagating wave for θc ≲ θ ≲ 180°-θc. When the beam density is low (nB ≈ 1%), the upstream resonance cone structure remains nearly unmodified, and it can be used for plasma diagnostics to deduce electron temperature and density using theoretical results based on a Maxwellian plasma.
- Publication:
-
Radio Science
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1029/RS018i004p00615
- Bibcode:
- 1983RaSc...18..615T
- Keywords:
-
- Electric Potential;
- Electron Beams;
- High Temperature Plasmas;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Plasma Resonance;
- Plasma-Particle Interactions;
- Angular Distribution;
- Cones;
- Radiation Distribution;
- Wave Propagation