Open AccessRay trajectories of lower hybrid solitary structures
Author(s) -
Schuck P. W.,
Bonnell J. W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2002ja009716
Subject(s) - homogeneous , refractive index , dispersion relation , amplitude , dispersion (optics) , physics , plasma , electron , computational physics , electron density , term (time) , optics , statistical physics , quantum mechanics
The correlation between large‐amplitude lower hybrid waves and density depletions, termed “spikelets,” “lower hybrid cavities,” or “lower hybrid solitary structures” has been attributed to the change in the refractive index computed from the homogeneous plasma dispersion relation. However, the appropriate refractive index includes the electron Hall term involving the density gradient. We demonstrate that the Hall term produces ray trajectories which are profoundly different from the homogeneous plasma dispersion relation.