Coulomb screening in the simultaneous presence of a radiation field and a strong DC magnetic field

Abstract

The effective static dielectric constant of an electron plasma in the simultaneous presence of an electromagnetic wave and a uniform DC magnetic field is discussed. It is found that as the radiation field frequency approaches the plasma frequency a breakdown in screening occurs. As the radiation frequency approaches the electron cyclotron frequency, however, the potential of a static charge felt by the electrons becomes vanishingly small.