Overlapping of the harmonics of the cyclotron frequency in the Bernstein waves due to relativistic effects.

By using the generalized expression for the plasma conductivity tensor, the general dispersion relation for the Bernstein waves is derived. To investigate the Bernstein waves for a weakly relativistic plasma, the Maxwell-Boltzmann-Juttner distribution function is employed. The propagation characteristics of the electron Bernstein waves (overlapping, propagation regions, and harmonic structures) are examined by using different values of η (ratio of rest mass energy to thermal energy) and ω p e ω c e (ratio of the plasma frequency to the cyclotron frequency). It is observed that the relativistic effects are the main cause of the harmonic overlapping which reduces the region of propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]