Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves by a Nonequilibrium Plasma

TLDR

Incoherent scattering of electromagnetic waves is governed by the spectral density of electron‑density fluctuations, which has been previously calculated only for plasmas in thermal equilibrium. The study extends this theory to spatially homogeneous nonequilibrium hot plasmas. The authors derive the results using dressed test particles and perform numerical calculations for plasmas with hot electrons and cold ions, as well as for plasmas with electron drift relative to ions.

Abstract

Incoherent scattering is determined by the spectral density of electron-density fluctuations. This quantity has previously been calculated for a plasma in thermal equilibrium. We have extended the theory to include spatially homogeneous nonequilibrium states of a hot plasma. An elementary derivation of the previous results and the new results is given in terms of dressed test particles. Numerical calculations have been carried out for a plasma with hot electrons and cold ions, and for a plasma in which the electrons have a net drift relative to the ions.