Non-linear Landau damping of electromagnetic cyclotron waves

Abstract

The non-linear scattering of circularly polarized electromagnetic waves is studied. Expressions for matrix elements of interaction are derived and for interacting right-handed circularly polarized waves (whistler waves) the matrix is explicitly calculated for particular velocity distribution functions of electrons. Non-linear damping rates are computed.It is shown that non-linear scattering is not in general a dominant process for whistlers in the magnetosphere.