Passage of electromagnetic waves through the critical surface

Abstract

A study is made of the passage of electromagnetic waves through the critical surface at small angles between the plasma density gradient and the magnetic field. Expressions are derived for the transmission and reflection coefficients of electromagnetic oscillations that are periodic in the direction transverse to the density gradient. The penetration of wave beams is also analyzed. In the case of a wide beam, the incident and transmitted ray trajectories are shown to be mirror-image about the resonance surface. Behind the resonance surface, a narrow incident wave beam generates a beam propagating along the magnetic field.