Wave Coupling in Multi-Mode, Inhomogeneous Ionized Media with Applications to Electron Steam-Whistler Mode Interactions

摘要

The multi-mode wave equation is broken up in first order coupled wave equations, which are made use of to determine the interaction between electron cyclotron and whistler modes in passive and 'active', i.e. amplifying, barriers. The total energy flow, electro-magnetic and kinetic, can be expressed simply as a Poynting flux in terms of 'reduced' electric (and magnetic) fields. These fields, which are related to the original ones by generalized WKB-type amplitude coefficients, are the quantities to be analytically continued through the barriers. This continuation makes it possible to evaluate, for example, the magnitude of the whistler mode amplification of the system. (Author)