Propagation of Ordinary and Extraordinary Modes in Ultra-Relativistic Maxwellian Electron Plasma

Modes of ultra relativistic electron plasma embedded in a strong magnetic field are investigated for perpendicular propagation. Using Boltzmann-Vlasov equation, a general expression for the conductivity tensor is derived. An ultra-relativistic Maxwellian distribution function is employed to derive different modes for strong magnetic field limit. In particular, the dispersion relations for the ordinary mode and the extra ordinary mode (O-mode and X-mode) are obtained. Graphs of these dispersion relations and the imaginary parts of the frequency are drawn for some specif ic values of the parameters. It is observed that the damping rate increases gradually, reaches some maximum point and then decreases for larger wavenumbers. Further, increasing the strength of the magnetic field lowers the maximum value of the damping rate. Subject Index: 522