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

TL;DR

This study uses Particle-In-Cell simulations to investigate harmonic generation in magnetized plasma, revealing conditions for maximum harmonic excitation and polarization effects, with potential for generating higher frequency EM waves.

Contribution

The paper provides a detailed simulation-based analysis of harmonic generation in magnetized plasma, highlighting the dependence on wave polarization and frequency matching the electron cyclotron frequency.

Findings

Odd harmonics excited for linearly polarized incident waves

Maximum harmonic generation occurs at electron cyclotron frequency

Circularly polarized incident waves do not produce harmonics

Abstract

The harmonic generation has always been of fundamental interest in studying the nonlinear nature of any physical system. In the present study, Particle - In - Cell (PIC) simulations have been carried out to explore the harmonic generation of Electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma. The EM wave propagation is chosen to be parallel to the applied external magnetic field. The simulations show the excitation of odd higher harmonics of RCP (Right circularly polarized) and LCP (Left circularly polarized) when the incident wave is linearly polarised. 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 of plasma parameters EM waves of higher frequencies and desired nature of circular polarization can be generated.