Oblique Electron Thermal Waves in a Magnetized Plasma

Propagations of an oblique electron thermal mode under the electron plasma frequency without boundary effects are investigated experimentally and theoretically in a magnetized plasma. The phase, ray, and group velocity surfaces of the electron thermal mode are obtained in a polar coordinate. The experimental observation of the electron mode radiated from a point source is found to be in fair accord with the theoretical wave fronts which are obtained from the ray velocity surface. Wave fronts and ray trajectories of an oblique electron thermal mode radiated from a point source are numerically obtained in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma with a use of an electrostatic kinetic theory. The spatial numerical results are indicated mainly below the electron plasma and cyclotron frequencies. Reflections of the mode in the plasma density lower than the electron plasma frequency are made clear numerically.