Plasma Waves in the Magnetosphere

The theory of waves in plasma is developed and applied to various wave phenomena in the magnetosphere. In Part 1 the theory of wave propagation in cold, warm and hot plasmas is developed. Particular attention is paid to the forms of refractive index surfaces, ray surfaces and group velocity surfaces which allow the visualization of the wave fronts which occur under different conditions. There is a full treatment of the interaction between waves and particles. These treatments are copiously illustrated in an attempt to give the reader an intentive feel for the nature of the phenomena. In Part 2 the theory is applied to a variety of natural wave phenomena which occur in the magnetosphere.

This book is a study of plasma waves which are observed in the earth's magnetosphere. The emphasis is on a thorough, but concise, treatment of the necessary theory and the use of this theory to understand the manifold varieties of waves which are observed by ground-based instruments and by satellites. We restrict our treatment to waves with wavelengths short compared with the spatial scales of the background plasma in the mag- netosphere. By so doing we exclude large scale magnetohydrodynamic phenomena such as ULF pulsations in the Pc2-5 ranges. The field is an active one and we cannot hope to discuss every wave phenomenon ever observed in the magnetosphere We try instead to give a good treatment of phenomena which are well understood, and which illustrate as many different parts of the theory as possible. It is thus hoped to put the reader in a position to understand the current literature. The treatment is aimed at a beginning graduate student in the field but it is hoped that it will also be of use as a reference to established workers. A knowledge of electromagnetic theory and some elementary plasma physics is assumed. The mathematical background required in- cludes a knowledge of vector calculus, linear algebra, and Fourier trans- form theory encountered in standard undergraduate physics curricula. A reasonable acquaintance with the theory of functions of a complex vari- able including contour integration and the residue theorem is assumed.