Numerical Calculations on the Propagation of Microwaves in Highly Over-Dense Magnetized Plasmas

Abstract

Propagation of microwaves in highly over-dense magnetized plasmas is numerically calculated. Well known cold plasma approximation and geometrical optics are used. It is shown that microwave can be propagated even in high-density magnetized plasmas, if an antenna launching the field with n ²_″ > 1 or n ²_″ < 0 is adopted. Here, n_″ is the refractive index parallel to the static magnetic field which is perpendicular to the density gradient. However, the application of this principle to plasma diagnosis is limited, since in the case n ²_″ > 1 one has to insert the antenna into density where ω_p/ω ≃ 1, whereas in the case n ²_″ < 0, propagation can he expected only near the surface of the antenna.