Work

Electromagnetic plasma wave modes propagating along light-cone coordinates

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We present new electromagnetic plasma wavepacket solutions that propagate in one time and one space coordinates. Unlike the usual plane wave solution, which is written in terms of separation of variables, all our solutions are defined along the light-cone coordinates. This allows us to find several new solutions whose functionality properties rely on the conditions imposed on the choice for their light-cone coordinates dependence. The presented wavepacket solutions are constructed in terms of multiplications of Airy functions, Parabolic cylinder functions, Mathieu functions, or Bessel functions. We thoroughly analyze the case of a double Airy solution, which exhibits new electromagnetic properties, as a defined wavefront, and velocity faster than the electromagnetic plane wave counterpart solution. It is also mentioned how more general structured wavepackets can be constructed from these new solutions.

Source: Physics of Plasmas

DOI: 10.1063/5.0312246

Authors: Felipe A. Asenjo, Swadesh M. Mahajan

Institutions: Adolfo Ibáñez University, The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico

Awards: ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTE FOR FUSION STUDIES, G222768804, ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTE FOR FUSION STUDIES, G6597950957