Physics Commons^™

Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From Magnetic Fluctuations In Tokamaks, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Cross sections are calculated for electromagnetic wave scattering and mode transformation from magnetic and density fluctuations in a homogeneous plasma. For the special case of scattering perpendicular to the magnetic field, density fluctuations scatter ordinary to ordinary and extraordinary to extraordinary modes-but cannot transform these modes. On the other hand, magnetic fluctuations perpendicular to the field can transform modes but cannot scatter on a single branch. For incident frequencies on the order of the electron plasma frequency or gyrofrequency, the cross sections for scattering and transformation due to field and density fluctuations have a similar value. Estimates are given for …