Wave propagation and dipole radiation in a suddenly created plasma

Abstract

Propagation and radiation of electromagnetic waves from oscillating sources in a suddenly created plasma are studied in this investigation. Field expressions are derived through the use of Laplace transformations. The spatial distribution of sources is taken to be arbitrary but confined. Two cases are considered in detail: 1) plane wave propagation in a source-free region and 2) electric point dipole radiation. In the case of plane wave propagation, various aspects such as wave split, frequency shift, phase and group velocities, amplitude changes, power flows, and energy relations are discussed. In the case of electric dipole radiation, the electromagnetic fields and instantaneous radiated power are calculated and expressed in terms of Lommel functions of two variables. Asymptotic expressions and graphical results of numerical calculations of these quantities are presented. Many interesting properties of the spherical waves and power radiation are discussed.

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