A Discussion on the early days of ionospheric research and the theory of electric and magnetic waves in the ionosphere and magnetosphere - Electromagnetic and hydromagnetic waves in a cold magnetoplasma

Abstract

The basis of the theory of waves in a cold homogeneous magnetoplasma is reviewed. The radio approximation (associated with Appleton) applies when the wave-frequency is large compared with the geometric mean of the electronic and ionic gyrofrequencies. The hydromagnetic approximation (associated with Alfven) corresponds to infinite conductivity along the lines of flux of the imposed magnetic field and applies when the wave-frequency is small compared with the plasma-frequency. The rich variety of dispersion phenomena existing in a magnetoplasma is illustrated by polar diagrams showing both the variation of group-velocity with beam-direction and the direction in which the antenna must be pointed to aim a beam in a particular direction.