Microwave interactions with a magnetized plasma near the electron cyclotron frequency

Summary form only given. Experimental investigations were conducted on the attenuation and reflection of a microwave beam propagating across a magnetic field uniform to within 1% in the plasma volume, in the ordinary and extraordinary modes. These attenuation and reflection measurements were made with a Hewlett-Packard model 8510 high-frequency network analyzer, which is capable of operating over frequencies from 45 MHz to 18 GHz. Experimental data such as the plasma attenuation and reflection, absorption peak half-width, and phase angle were obtained as functions of the plasma parameters and compared with the predictions of cold plasma theory as described by the Appleton equation. The classical Penning discharge used to generate the plasma consisted of an approximately uniform magnetic field with a maximum value of 0.32 T, corresponding to electron cyclotron resonance at approximately 9 GHz. The plasma was steady state, approximately 12 cm in diameter, and had densities ranging up to 10¹¹ per cubic centimeter