Ebook: Plasma Waves in the Magnetosphere

This book is a study of plasma waves which are observed in the earth's magnetosphere. The emphasis is on a thorough, but concise, treatment of the necessary theory and the use of this theory to understand the manifold varieties of waves which are observed by ground-based instruments and by satellites. We restrict our treatment to waves with wavelengths short compared with the spatial scales of the background plasma in the mag­ netosphere. By so doing we exclude large scale magnetohydrodynamic phenomena such as ULF pulsations in the Pc2-5 ranges. The field is an active one and we cannot hope to discuss every wave phenomenon ever observed in the magnetosphere! We try instead to give a good treatment of phenomena which are well understood, and which illustrate as many different parts of the theory as possible. It is thus hoped to put the reader in a position to understand the current literature. The treatment is aimed at a beginning graduate student in the field but it is hoped that it will also be of use as a reference to established workers. A knowledge of electromagnetic theory and some elementary plasma physics is assumed. The mathematical background required in­ cludes a knowledge of vector calculus, linear algebra, and Fourier trans­ form theory encountered in standard undergraduate physics curricula. A reasonable acquaintance with the theory of functions of a complex vari­ able including contour integration and the residue theorem is assumed.

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The theory of waves in plasma is developed and applied to various wave phenomena in the magnetosphere. In Part 1 the theory of wave propagation in cold, warm and hot plasmas is developed. Particular attention is paid to the forms of refractive index surfaces, ray surfaces and group velocity surfaces which allow the visualization of the wave fronts which occur under different conditions. There is a full treatment of the interaction between waves and particles. These treatments are copiously illustrated in an attempt to give the reader an intentive feel for the nature of the phenomena. In Part 2 the theory is applied to a variety of natural wave phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere.

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The theory of waves in plasma is developed and applied to various wave phenomena in the magnetosphere. In Part 1 the theory of wave propagation in cold, warm and hot plasmas is developed. Particular attention is paid to the forms of refractive index surfaces, ray surfaces and group velocity surfaces which allow the visualization of the wave fronts which occur under different conditions. There is a full treatment of the interaction between waves and particles. These treatments are copiously illustrated in an attempt to give the reader an intentive feel for the nature of the phenomena. In Part 2 the theory is applied to a variety of natural wave phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Basic Equations....Pages 3-14
Waves in a Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma — 1. Infinite Plane Waves....Pages 15-42
Waves in a Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma — 2. Rays and Wave Packets....Pages 43-73
Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves in a Non-Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma....Pages 74-82
Waves in a Uniform Warm Magnetoplasma....Pages 83-100
Waves in a Hot Plasma — 1. General Features....Pages 101-122
Waves in a Hot Plasma — 2. Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Distributions....Pages 123-150
The Effect of Wave Fields on Energetic Particles....Pages 151-186
Front Matter....Pages 187-187
Magnetospheric Plasmas....Pages 189-207
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 1. Whistler Observations and Basic Theory....Pages 208-222
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 2. Details of Whistler Propagation....Pages 223-248
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 3. Ion Cyclotron Whistlers....Pages 249-264
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 4. Doppler Shifted Cyclotron Resonance of Electrons with Whistlers....Pages 265-288
Waves in the Auroral Region....Pages 289-316
Some Final Words....Pages 317-319
Back Matter....Pages 321-348

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The theory of waves in plasma is developed and applied to various wave phenomena in the magnetosphere. In Part 1 the theory of wave propagation in cold, warm and hot plasmas is developed. Particular attention is paid to the forms of refractive index surfaces, ray surfaces and group velocity surfaces which allow the visualization of the wave fronts which occur under different conditions. There is a full treatment of the interaction between waves and particles. These treatments are copiously illustrated in an attempt to give the reader an intentive feel for the nature of the phenomena. In Part 2 the theory is applied to a variety of natural wave phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Basic Equations....Pages 3-14
Waves in a Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma — 1. Infinite Plane Waves....Pages 15-42
Waves in a Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma — 2. Rays and Wave Packets....Pages 43-73
Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves in a Non-Uniform Cold Magnetoplasma....Pages 74-82
Waves in a Uniform Warm Magnetoplasma....Pages 83-100
Waves in a Hot Plasma — 1. General Features....Pages 101-122
Waves in a Hot Plasma — 2. Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Distributions....Pages 123-150
The Effect of Wave Fields on Energetic Particles....Pages 151-186
Front Matter....Pages 187-187
Magnetospheric Plasmas....Pages 189-207
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 1. Whistler Observations and Basic Theory....Pages 208-222
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 2. Details of Whistler Propagation....Pages 223-248
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 3. Ion Cyclotron Whistlers....Pages 249-264
Waves in the Plasmasphere — 4. Doppler Shifted Cyclotron Resonance of Electrons with Whistlers....Pages 265-288
Waves in the Auroral Region....Pages 289-316
Some Final Words....Pages 317-319
Back Matter....Pages 321-348
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