The effect of thermal anisotropy on the propagation of whistler waves in mixed hot-cold electron plasmas

Abstract

The first-order CGL fluid equations for electrons including the first-order heat fluxes are applied to the propagation of whistler waves. The dispersion relation of whistler waves is derived for two types of equilibrium electron distribution functions with cold and hot components. The effect of electron temperature anisotropy and the existence of cold electrons on the field-aligned propagation of whistler waves is analysed. It is shown that the electron temperature anisotropy intensifies the tendency of whistler waves to follow the lines of force of static magnetic field, that the existence of cold electrons in an anisotropic plasma further intensifies this tendency, and that under certain conditions the waves propagate only along the static magnetic field.