Whistler-mode polarization in a hot anisotropic plasma

Abstract

Polarization of whistler-mode waves in a hot anisotropic plasma is considered in the two limiting cases of quasi-longitudinal and quasi-electrostatic propagation. It is pointed out that electron thermal motion never influences the phase of the propagating waves; the polarization of whistler-mode waves propagating along the magnetic field is totally independent of electron thermal motion. The deformation of polarization (in both electric and magnetic fields), of obliquely propagating whistler-mode waves could be, in principle, observed in magnetospheric conditions and thus could be used to estimate electron temperature and anisotropy. This deformation seems to be especially pronounced for the electric field polarization of quasi-electrostatic waves.