Microwave propagation in a plasma with a sheared magnetic field

The propagation of a plane electromagnetic wave through a Lorentz plasma in a sheared magnetic field is considered. The characteristic waves in a uniformly sheared, but otherwise homogeneous, medium are found, and their properties presented graphically. Some effects introduced by the presence of shear are investigated by means of elementary applications of the uniform-shear theory. By suggested extensions of the analysis, refinements may be made in the interpretation of microwave diagnostic experiments with controlled-fusion containment devices having complicated sheared fields.