Mode conversion and the absorption and emission of electromagnetic waves

A general theory of mode conversion in an inhomogeneous plasma (medium) is described. The theory describes the coupling of undamped waves and is applied to electron and ion cyclotron resonance heating. It is shown how the power absorbed can be interpreted as the fraction of incident power which is mode converted to cyclotron harmonic waves. Similarly, the emitted radiation intensity at harmonics of the electron (or ion) cyclotron frequency can be obtained from the fraction of the energy of cyclotron harmonic waves which is mode converted to electromagnetic waves