Whistler wave trapping in a density crest

The linear trapping of whistler waves in a field-aligned density crest is investigated experimentally and theoretically below ω=ω/sub c//2 (half gyrofrequency). An experiment has been performed on antenna-excited whistler waves in a large magnetized plasma with a density crest. The phase and amplitude profiles of the whistler wave are measured along and across the crest. The results are compared with predictions based on ray theory. Laboratory observations have verified the characteristic behavior of crest trapping