THE ABSORPTIVITY SPECTRUM OF A UNIFORM, ANISOTROPIC PLASMA SLAB

Abstract

Using a generalized formulation of Kirchhoff's law it is possible to relate the equilibrium electromagnetic radiation spectrum of a body to its absorptivity spectrum. The microwave absorptivity of a uniform anisotropic plasma slab to a normally incident electromagnetic wave is obtained by matching fields at the boundaries and is solved completely for the model chosen.The absorptivity spectrum of the plasma slab is computed for waves propagating parallel to and normal to an applied static magnetic field for various electron densities, electron collision frequencies, and slab thicknesses. Peaks in the absorptivity spectrum occur around the edges of the "stop-bands". In general, the absorptivity increases with slab thickness and collision frequency. The effect of internal reflections is included and gives rise to undulations in the absorptivity spectrum.