Details

The variable is the atomic number of the ions (1–30 in this Demonstration).

Change " min", " max", " min", and " max" to vary the area of the dispersion plot being solved for (i.e., acts as the bounds for the solution to the dielectric tensor).

The variable "angle" refers to the angle that the wave makes with the magnetic field in degrees.

The variable "max recursions" defines the precision of the plot, but a higher value takes longer.

For computational reasons, the cyclotron frequency cannot be set to 0, so it is bound between .01 and 1 times the electron plasma frequency.

The red curves correspond to the solutions found by taking the plus sign in the plasma dispersion equation and the blue correspond to the solutions found by taking the minus sign.

References

[1] R. J. Goldston, "Low-Frequency Waves in a Magnetized Plasma," Introduction to Plasma Physics, London: Institute of Physics Publishing, 1995 pp. 285–308.

[2] P. M. Bellan, "Cold Plasma Waves in a Magnetized Plasma," Fundamentals of Plasma Physics, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006 pp. 206–241.

For more information on plasma waves, see the Wikipedia entry for "Plasma waves".

For more information on dispersion relations in general, see the Wikipedia entry for "Dispersion relation".