Interaction of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Waves with a Plasma

The interaction of a low‐frequency electromagnetic wave with a semi‐infinite plasma is considered. The single‐fluid equations of magneto‐gas dynamics are linearized in the presence of a strong, uniform, steady magnetic field. Solutions are obtained for both normal incidence and parallel propagation of the electromagnetic wave. In both cases the strong, steady magnetic field is parallel to the interface and the magnetic component of the incident wave has the same direction. In the examples con‐considered, the parameter ${\mu }_0^2{\sigma }_0{H}_0^2{\mathrm{/\rho }}_0\omega$ determines the interaction between electromagnetic and acoustic modes. With normal incidence an acoustic mode is excited if this parameter is of order one. In the case of parallel propagation an appreciable parallel velocity component is excited when the governing parameter is quite small.