Comprehensive theory of r.f. energy absorption by a hot ion- electron plasma cylinder excited by an arbitrary electromagnetic field

The general electromagnetic problem of coupling a magnetized, hot electron-ion plasma column to an arbitrary r.f. exciting field which is periodic along the column axis is considered. The plasma is described by fluid theory and the absorbed r.f. power is computed in a broad frequency range (from omega << omega _ci up to omega > omega _ce). The influence of all parameters is systematically investigated and the often startling effects of axial propagation, electron temperature, TE or TM mode of exciting field and boundedness of the plasma are emphasized. Finally the distribution of r.f. energy between ions and electrons is discussed.