Magnetic Field Generation in Resonance Absorption of Light

Abstract

A simple formula is derived for the static magnetic field generated by resonance absorption of light in an inhomogeneous plasma. It is shown that this field evolves adiabatically in time with the high-frequency-wave amplitudes and that steady state is achieved by a balance between radiation-induced stresses and frictional or convective losses, the latter effects having been neglected in all previous work on this subject. Comparison is made with computer simulation and experiment.