Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
Parametric amplification of electromagnetic plasma waves in resonance with a dispersive background gravitational wave
Swadesh M Mahajan1, Felipe A Asenjo2
1Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Abstract:
It is shown that a subluminal electromagnetic plasma wave, propagating in phase with a background subluminal gravitational wave in a dispersive medium, can undergo parametric amplification. For these phenomena to occur, the dispersive characteristics of the two waves must properly match. The response frequencies of the two waves (medium dependent) must lie within a definite and restrictive range. The combined dynamics is represented by a Whitaker-Hill equation, the quintessential model for parametric instabilities. The exponential growth of the electromagnetic wave is displayed at the resonance; the plasma wave grows at the expense of the background gravitational wave. Different physical scenarios, where the phenomenon can be possible, are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Standing Waves in a Cavity
Electromagnetic Waves in Matter
Consider the electromagnetic wave passing through a dielectric medium. In such a case, Maxwell's equations get modified. In Ampere's law, ε0 , the dielectric permittivity of free space is replaced with ε, the permittivity of dielectric. Also, the vacuum permeability μ0 is replaced by the permeability of the...
Generating Electromagnetic Radiations
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Wave Equation
However, although electric and magnetic fields were first introduced as mathematical constructs to simplify the description of mutual forces between charges, a natural question emerges from Maxwell's equations:...
Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves

