Anisotropy induced wave birefringence in bounded supercritical plasma confined in a multicusp magnetic field

作者：Dey Indranuj^*; Bhattacharjee Sudeep

来源：Applied Physics Letters, 2011, 98(15): 151501.

DOI：10.1063/1.3577610

Laboratory observation of rotation of the polarization axis (theta(c) similar to 20 degrees - 40 degrees with respect to vacuum) of a penetrating electromagnetic wave through a bounded supercritical plasma (plasma frequency omega(p) > wave frequency omega), confined in a multicusp magnetic field is reported. Birefringence of the radial and polar wave electric field components (E(r) and E(theta)) has been identified as the cause for the rotation, similar to a magneto-optic medium, however, with distinct differences owing to the presence of wave induced resonances. Numerical simulation results obtained by solving the Maxwell's equations by incorporating the plasma and magnetostatic field inhomogeneities within a conducting boundary shows a reasonable agreement with the experimental results.

• 出版日期2011-4-11