Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T06:48:32.319Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Scintillations in a magnetized plasma. Part 2. The fourth-order moment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

D. B. Melrose
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Theoretical Astrophysics,University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Extract

The theory of strong scintillations in a weakly anisotropic plasma is used to derive an equation satisfied by the correlation functions for the Stokes parameters. The coefficients that describe these correlation functions are determined explicitly in terms of a matrix generalization of the standard phasestructure function. In discussing implications of the theory, emphasis is placed on terms that have no counterpart in an isotropic plasma. It is shown that the decay of the linear polarizaiton that results from differential Faraday rotation is different in the mean squares and the square means of the Stokes parameters. In principle, this allows one to determine properties relating to the fluctuations of the magnetic field along the ray path. A formal treatment of polarization dependent intensity fluctuations in a magnetized plasma is presented and discussed briefly.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ishimaru, A. 1978 Wave Propagation and Scattering in Random Media. Vol. 2. Multiple Scattering, Turbulence, Rough Surfaces, and Remode Sensing. Academic.Google Scholar
Melrose, D. B. 1983 J. Plasma Phys. 50, 267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prokhorov, A. M., Bunkin, F. V., Gochelashvily, K. S. & Shishov, V. I. 1975 Proc. IEEE 63, 790.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rumsey, V. H. 1975 Radio Sci. 10, 107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spangler, S. R. 1982 Astrophys. J. 261, 310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatarski, V. I. & Zavorotnyi, V. U. 1980 Prog. Optics 18, 204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uscinski, B. J. 1977 The Elements of Wave Propagation in Random Media. McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Uscinski, B. J. 1982 Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 380, 137.Google Scholar