Journal of Physical Studies 3(3), 300–311 (1999)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/jps.03.300

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE SCATTERING AND CONVERSION BY LOW-FREQUENCY COLLECTIVE FLUCTUATIONS IN MAGNETIZED PLASMAS

A. G. Sitenko
Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics
14-b Metrolohichna Str., UA-03143, Kyiv, Ukraine

The problem of electromagnetic wave scattering in a plasma placed in a strong external magnetic field and its possible applications for plasma diagnostics is discussed. The scattering is associated both with longitudinal field fluctuations (charge density fluctuations) and with transverse electromagnetic fluctuations. Electromagnetic wave scattering by magnetic fluctuations is accompanied by wave conversion. Low–frequency fluctuation spectra of electric and magnetic fields are calculated for a plasma with a strong external magnetic field. Incoherent fluctuations and fluctuations associated with the excitation of collective modes (Alfven and magnetosonic waves) are singled out. The spectral distributions of the electric and magnetic field fluctuations in nonequilibrium plasmas are considered. Fluctuations are also considered in a plasma with large–scale turbulent pulsations. The wave scattering cross–section is calculated and the conditions are revealed, under which conversion is the dominant process. Peculiar features of scattered waves spectral distribution depending on the parameters that characterize plasma state are treated.