Dual propagation and absorption in a warm plasma half-space

Abstract

The relativistic Vlasov equation together with Maxwell's equations are used in a study of p-polarized electromagnetic waves incident on a warm plasma halfspace. The domain for dual propagation of longitudinal and transverse waves is derived as a function of density, temperature and incident angle at a given frequency. Expressions for the reflection and absorption coefficients are obtained in the non-relativistic limit. It is found that maximum absorption occurs at an angle dependent on the density and temperature of the plasma, above which dual propagation will not occur. It is inferred that the density–temperature space available for dual propagation diminishes with the growth of the maximum angle for such propagation.