Plasma physics

I derive the dielectric tensor for wave propagation in a cold fluid-model magnetized plasma. This somewhat tedious calculation is a “right of passage” problem for beginning students of plasma physics since the various ways waves propagate in a magnetized plasma can be deduced from this tensor. In another notebook, I will present the analogous derivation for a warm plasma using kinetic theory \[LongDash] a more formidable calculation.

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I derive the electrostatic response for a warm magnetized plasma. This is a classical calculation in plasma physics that involves the solution of a PDE by the method of characteristics, several integrations, special functions, and numerous algebraic manipulations. I demonstrate that the contemporary capabilities of Mathematica can facilitate such calculations.

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