Propagation and scattering in plasmas

The discussion begins with a review of some of the physical assumptions that underlie the mathematical model of a temperate plasma as a continuous medium. On the basis of these assumptions, the tensor permittivity of a locally homogeneous electron plasma in a uniform magnetic field is derived and incorporated in the usual Helmholtz integral for the scattering of an electro-magnetic plane wave by a dielectric region. By extending this integral to a plasma with random space-time fluctuations, formulas are derived for the coherent and incoherent components of the power scattered per unit solid angle in any direction. On the basis of these formulas, a summary account is given of the various attempts that have been made to explain the observed scattering from laboratory plasmas, from the ionosphere, and from the turbulent wakes associated with hypersonic re-entry of large terrestrial vehicles into the earth´s atmosphere.