Harmonic generation in magnetized plasma for electromagnetic wave propagating parallel to external magnetic field

Abstract

Harmonic generation has always been of fundamental interest in the study of the nonlinear nature of any physical system. In the present study, particle-in-cell simulations have been carried out to explore the harmonic generation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in a magnetized plasma. EM wave propagation is chosen to be parallel to the applied external magnetic field. The simulations show the excitation of odd higher harmonics of right circularly polarized waves and left circularly polarized waves when the incident wave is linearly polarized. The harmonic generation is maximum when the incident EM wave frequency matches the electron cyclotron frequency. When the incident EM wave has a circular polarization, no harmonics get excited. A theoretical understanding of these observations has also been provided. The studies thus show that by appropriately tailoring plasma parameters, EM waves of higher frequencies and the desired nature of circular polarization can be generated.