Dispersion and Attenuation of Whistler Waves in a Finite Plasma

Abstract

Effects of finite plasma dimension on the whistler wave propagation in a dense plasma (ω_p²>>ω_c²) are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Dispersion relation for whistler waves in a cylindrical plasma of radius a is solved and compared with the infinite plane wave solution. For ω_pa⁄c\lesssim10, the finite size effects become so significant that, below half the electron cyclotron frequency ω_c, the phase velocity and the damping rate increase in comparison with the infinite case. Measured dispersion and attenuation are well described by the finite plasma theory.