Work

Fresnel drag in a moving magnetised plasma

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The change in direction of the wavevector and group velocity experienced by a wave refracted at the interface of an anisotropic medium in uniform linear motion are determined analytically. These transmission conditions, which are shown to be consistent with the generalised Snell’s law written in the laboratory frame, are then used to examine the effect of motion on waves incident on a magnetised plasma. For an incident wave in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field the motion is observed to lead to non-negligible deviation of the low-frequency X-mode, as well as to non-symmetrical total reflection angles. These effects are shown to be further complicated when the magnetic field is in the plane formed by the incident wavevector and the medium’s velocity, as the anisotropy now competes with the motion-induced drag. Although obtained in simplified configurations, these results suggest that accounting for motion when modelling plasma wave trajectories could be important under certain conditions, calling for a more detailed quantification of the effect of motion in actual diagnostics and plasma control schemes.

Source: Journal of Plasma Physics

DOI: 10.1017/s0022377825000182

Authors: J. Langlois, A. Braud, R. Gueroult

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Laboratoire Plasma et Conversion d'Energie, Université de Toulouse

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic confinement fusion research

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche