Mode conversion of an X wave in a time-varying magnetoplasma

Summary form only given, as follows. Our preliminary investigation on the electromagnetic wave propagation in a time-varying magneto plasma showed that there will be a mode conversion as time-varying plasma parameters go through a cross-over frequency. As the normalized plasma frequency /spl omega//sub p/(t) changes from 0.2 to 1.2 the mode changes from a fast wave to a slow wave. Such a conversion has many implications. It is possible to have an efficient conversion of an electromagnetic pulse from a fast mode to a slow mode and vice versa with variable frequency, group velocity, power flow, and pulse duration (pulse compression or expansion). Using FD-TD technique and also Green´s function technique developed earlier, we are investigating the theory for the rate of parameter variation for optimum mode conversion and the efficiency of mode conversion.