Gaussian Laser Beam in a Magnetized Plasma. II.

Abstract

Properties of a laser beam propagating perpendicular to the external magnetic field in a plasma are investigated theoretically. The beam is represented by a Helmholtz equation in almost all plasma parameter space. For the upper hybrid wave region the wave equation turns to a hyperbolic partial differential equation. It is shown that both equations can be exactly solved by using a method of separation of variables and that solutions having Gaussian profiles lateral to the propagation direction are obtained. An appreciable difference between two solutions appears in their phase factors. Owing to the asymmetry of the configuration around the axis of wave propagation the cross sections of beams take shapes of ellipse and each beam has two different focus points.