The effect of electron temperature anisotropy on the propagation of whistler waves

The first-order Chew, Goldberger and Low (CGL) equations for electrons including the effect of finite Larmor radius are applied to the whistler wave. The zeroth-order velocity distribution function for electrons in the CGL expansion is assumed to be an anisotropic Maxwellian. The effect of electron thermal motion on the propagation of whistler waves is analysed by use of a dispersion relation and properties of the refractive index surface. It is shown that the electron thermal motion intensifies the tendency of whistler waves to follow the lines of force of the earth's magnetic field at appropriate values of electron temperature anisotropy. (author)