Wave Motions of Small Amplitude in a Fully Ionized Plasma under Applied Magnetic Field

Abstract

Wave motions of infinitesimal amplitude in a fully ionized plasma, consisting of singly charged ions and electrons, have been investigated by a two-fluid theory under uniform external magnetic field. The interaction of the basic modes of wave due to external magnetic field has been discussed. If the magnetic field is in the direction of propagation of the waves, two basic transverse waves interact, if the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of waves, two basic longitudinal waves and one basic transverse wave will interact, and if the direction of the magnetic field is at an acute angle with the direction of the propagation, all four basic waves will interact. The dependences of the interacted waves on ion and electron plasma frequencies and ion and electron cyclotron frequencies are analyzed in detail. The effect of finite electrical conductivity on these waves is briefly discussed.