Propagation properties of electron cyclotron waves with helical wavefronts in magnetized plasma

Abstract

Propagation properties of an optical vortex with a helical wavefront in cold uniform magnetized plasma are theoretically investigated in an electron cyclotron range of frequencies. The effects of the helical wavefront of the optical vortex on the wave fields in magnetized plasma are described. These effects become significant as the topological charge of the optical vortex increases or the distance from the phase singularity point becomes small. The different properties of propagation are also confirmed in propagation of Laguerre–Gaussian beams by three-dimensional simulations with the finite element method.