ORDINARY WAVES IN RELATIVISTIC PLASMAS

The propagation and absorption of ordinary waves in fully relativistic plasma are investigated. Several interesting effects introduced by th e relativistic mass increase associated with an increase in the electr on temperature are examined. In particular, it is found that the cutof f density of ordinary waves increases significantly as the electron te mperature increases. The effects of anomalous wave dispersion, which a ppear near the fundamental electron cyclotron frequency and its second and third harmonic, are greatest for low temperatures and subsist up to intermediate temperatures (T approximate to 300 keV). An efficient damping of ordinary waves is obtained in a wide temperature range. The harmonic structure of the absorption profiles and the effects of anom alous dispersion disappear almost simultaneously at high electron temp eratures. The results obtained may have important implications for the wave absorption and in particular, for emission in relativistic plasm as.