Computational Analysis of Weakly Magnetized Plasma's Effects on Electromagnetic Wave Propagating Perpendicular to the Magnetic Field

Abstract

Magnetised plasma influences electromagnetic wave propagation, this resulting in polarisations at different velocities, an effect that can result in ghost signals. This work provided critical information on the effects of magnetized plasma on electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation perpendicular to the magnetic field. Electromagnetic waves propagating perpendicular to the magnetic field in a weakly magnetized plasma were studied. Furthermore, there are two modes of EM wave propagation perpendicular to the field: ordinary (O) and extraordinary (X). The values of the ordinary (O) mode's frequency were obtained by substituting the values of its wave number (k) into its dispersion relation, while the same frequency values were substituted to obtain the values of its refractive index (η_O^2). The plasma frequency values derived from the Bohm-Gross formulae for electron plasma. The plasma frequency values obtained from the Bohm-Gross formulae for electron plasma waves were substituted into the extraordinary mode dispersion relation to obtain frequency values with cut-off frequencies at ω_L and ω_R. The refractive index values were calculated using the same frequency values (X-mode). The results revealed that for EM wave propagation perpendicular to magnetic field in a weakly magnetized plasma in vacuum, the speed as well as the direction was unperturbed. The results also revealed that the properties of electromagnetic waves propagating perpendicular to magnetic field in a weakly magnetized plasma in an ordinary (O) mode were different from those for extraordinary (X) mode, with the former having a higher phase speed than the latter. Additionally, we discovered that, the phase velocity (υP) exceeded the speed of light (c), which is consistent with the basic ideas of special relativity.