Principles of Electromagnetic Waves and Materials, 2nd Edition

9Waves in Isotropic Cold Plasma: Dispersive Medium*

In Section 8.4, we briefly discussed the plasma medium and characterized it by the associated parameter called the plasma frequency ω_p, which is related to the electron density N through Equation 8.22. In Chapter 10, we will discuss quantitatively the various technical terms used in describing the plasma state of matter.

In this chapter, we consider the wave propagation in an isotropic cold (thermal effects neglected) plasma medium. We start with the equation for the force experienced by the electron in the plasma medium due to the wave electric and magnetic fields, given by

(9.1a)$$m\frac{\text{d}v}{\text{d}t}=-q\left[E+v\times B\right].$$

It can be shown that the force due to the wave magnetic field is negligible compared to the ...