ABSTRACT

This chapter considers the dielectric properties of Vlasov plasmas in thermodynamic equilibria. It also considers the dielectric tensor evaluated with a Maxwellian velocity distribution; a function of a complex variable, the plasma dispersion function, will thereby be introduced. The chapter discusses the longitudinal dielectric properties. It also considers the cases in which a uniform magnetic field is applied to the plasma. The chapter describes the propagation of electromagnetic waves in plasmas. It presents the simple cases of an isotropic plasma without an external magnetic field. The chapter deals with a combined effect of at least three characteristic frequencies: the plasma frequency, the cyclotron frequency, and the frequency of the electromagnetic wave. It also considers wave propagation perpendicular to the magnetic field. The chapter explores the consequences of the equations for an one-component plasma and for a two-component plasma consisting of electrons and ions in thermodynamic equilibrium.