Polarization of obliquely propagating whistler mode waves based on linear dispersion theory

Abstract

We discuss the variation of whistler mode wave electric and magnetic field polarizations as a function of propagation angle θkB0 with respect to the background magnetic field B0 using linear kinetic dispersion theory. The circular polarization of the whistler mode wave magnetic field at all propagation angles [Verkhoglyadova et al. J. Geophys. Res. 115, A00F19 (2010); P. M. Bellan, Phys. Plasmas 20, 082113 (2013)] is found to be valid only for cold plasma or low plasma beta conditions. The wave magnetic fields, on a plane orthogonal to the wave vector k, tend to become elliptically polarized with an increase in propagation angles for high beta plasma background conditions (βe≥0.1). The electric field polarization plane may not be orthogonal to wave vector k, especially for oblique propagations, and is found to be circularly polarized only at parallel propagation direction as reported by Verkhoglyadova et al. [J. Geophys. Res. 115, A00F19 (2010)] and Bellan [Phys. Plasmas 20, 082113 (2013)]. They become elliptically polarized with an increase in propagation angles. This is valid for arbitrary plasma beta conditions. The results are also analysed and compared for an inner magnetospheric plasma model with three electron species. The two major angles, Gendrin and resonance cone angles, are also discussed.