Harmonic generation in magnetized plasma for electromagnetic wave propagating parallel to external magnetic field

Harmonic generation has always been of fundamental interest in the study of the nonlinear nature of any physical system. In the present study, particle-in-cell simulations have been carried out to explore the harmonic generation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in a magnetized plasma. EM wave propagation is chosen to be parallel to the applied external magnetic field. The simulations show the excitation of odd higher harmonics of right circularly polarized waves and left circularly polarized waves when the incident wave is linearly polarized. The harmonic generation is maximum when the incident EM wave frequency matches the electron cyclotron frequency. When the incident EM wave has a circular polarization, no harmonics get excited. A theoretical understanding of these observations has also been provided. The studies thus show that by appropriately tailoring plasma parameters, EM waves of higher frequencies and the desired nature of circular polarization can be generated.

Automated summary

In this study, particle-in-cell simulations are used to investigate the harmonic generation of electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma. Odd higher harmonics of linearly polarized waves are excited, with the maximum harmonic generation occurring when the incident wave frequency matches the electron cyclotron frequency. No harmonics are excited when the incident wave has circular polarization. These studies show that by carefully adjusting plasma parameters, higher frequency EM waves with the desired circular polarization can be generated.