Kinetic Theory of Plasma Waves: Part II: Homogeneous Plasma

Abstract

The theory of electromagnetic waves in a homogeneous plasma is reviewed. The linear response of the plasma to the waves is obtained in the form of the dielectric tensor. Waves ranging from the low frequency Alfvén to the high frequency electron cyclotron waves are discussed in the limit of the cold plasma approximation. Bernstein waves are briefly treated as an example of waves in finite temperature plasmas.