Cross-polarization scattering from electromagnetic plasma waves in ion cyclotron range of frequencies

The cross-polarization scattering diagnostic system is applied to the central-cell plasma of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror in the study of electromagnetic plasma waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies. An incident ordinary (extraordinary) wave is converted to an extraordinary (ordinary) wave by magnetic fluctuations. The converted wave can propagate through the cutoff layer and reach the detector. The transmitted and reflected waves are investigated at various incident frequencies. The experimental data suggest that density and magnetic fluctuations of similar levels are excited in a plasma due to the instabilities in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies. (author)