How to calculate this dispersion relation

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the calculation of dispersion relations in plasma physics, specifically referencing Ichimaru's "Basic Principles of Plasma Physics" Section 3.1. The participants identify errors in the dimensional correctness of the (1,2) and (2,1) elements of a 2x2 matrix used in the derivation. They conclude that the dispersion relation requires separate treatment for cases where ##\omega > \omega_c## and ##\omega < \omega_c##, with the first case yielding a minus sign in the denominator and the second case likely resulting in a plus sign.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of dispersion relations in plasma physics
  • Familiarity with matrix determinants and dimensional analysis
  • Knowledge of the significance of the frequency variable ##\omega## in wave equations
  • Basic principles of statistical mechanics as outlined in Ichimaru's work
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Karl86
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Homework Statement
Let ##\mathbf{E}## be an electric field that behaves like ##e^{i\mathbf{k}\cdot\mathbf{r} -\omega t}## and consider the equation relating ##\mathbf{E}## to the displacement field ##\mathbf{D}##: $$\mathbf{k}^2 \mathbf{E}=\frac{\omega^2}{c^2}\mathbf{D}$$ ##\mathbf{D}## is related to ##\mathbf{E}## by a permittivity matrix ##\epsilon_{ij}## such that ##D_i=\sum_j\epsilon_{ij} E_j##, but this should not be relevant. If I know that the solutions ##\mathbf{E}## to the equation that are transverse to ##\mathbf{k}##, are given by the ##(E_1,E_2)## such that
$$ \begin{pmatrix} \omega^2 - c^2 k^2 -\frac{\omega_p^2 \omega^2}{\omega^2 - \omega_c^2} & i\frac{\omega_p^2 \omega_c \omega^2}{\omega^2-\omega_c^2} \\ -i\frac{\omega_p^2 \omega_c \omega^2}{\omega^2-\omega_c^2} & \omega^2 - c^2 k^2 -\frac{\omega_p^2 \omega^2}{\omega^2 - \omega_c^2} \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} E_1 \\ E_2 \end{pmatrix} = 0 $$ It is claimed that the dispersion relation of such a wave solution is $$c^2 k^2 = \omega^2 \left(1 - \frac{\omega_p^2}{\omega(\omega \pm \omega_c)}\right) $$ I don't understand this.
Relevant Equations
##\omega^2=\Omega^2(k)## ??
I have no idea how this dispersion relation was deduced, and also what's the meaning of including plus and minus in the formula.
 
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The non-trivial solutions have the determinant of the 2x2 matrix on the left equal to zero. Perhaps that helps. Otherwise, for a complete treatment, see Ichimaru's Basic Principles of Plasma Physics A Statistical Approach Section 3.1.
 
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Somewhere, there seems to be an error or two in that 2x2 matrix. The (1,2) and (2,1) elements are not dimensionally correct.
 
Charles Link said:
Somewhere, there seems to be an error or two in that 2x2 matrix. The (1,2) and (2,1) elements are not dimensionally correct.
There is one extra ##\omega## factor in both but I can no longer edit the post. It all worked out anyway, except that I thought there was a general strategy to obtain dispersion relations for generic waves, instead it looks like there are ad hoc methods, so to speak.
 
Yes, I see it now also. It should be first power of ## \omega ## in the numerator of the (2,1) and (1,2) terms.
 
And for this one, you need to do two cases separately: ## \omega > \omega_c ##, and ## \omega < \omega_c ##. I worked the first case and got the minus sign in the denominator. The second one is trickier, but it no doubt gives the plus in the denominator.
 
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