Experimental studies on the propagation of whistler-mode waves in a magnetized plasma structure with a non-uniform density

Abstract

Propagation of whistler-mode waves in a magnetized plasma structure is investigated in the Keda linear magnetized plasma device. The magnetized plasma structure has its density peak in the center, and the background magnetic field is homogeneous along the axial direction. A whistler-mode wave with a frequency of 0.3 times of electron cyclotron frequency (f ce) is launched into the plasma structure. The wave normal angle (WNA) is about 25°, and the wavefront exhibits a wedge structure. During propagation of the whistler wave, both the propagating angle and WNA slowly approach zero, and then the wave is converged toward the center of the structure. Therefore, the wave tends to be trapped in the plasma structure. The results present observational evidence of the propagation of a whistler-mode wave trapped in the enhanced-density structure in a laboratory plasma. This trapping effect is consistent with satellite observations in the inner magnetosphere.