Harmonic launching of ion Bernstein waves via mode transformation

Ion Bernstein wave excitation and propagation via finite ion-Larmor-radium mode-transformation are investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies omega less than or equal to 4..cap omega../sub i/, with modest ion temperatures (T/sub i/ less than or equal to 10 eV), the finite-Larmor-radius effect removes the wave singularity at lower-hybrid resonance layer, enabling an externally initiated electron plasma wave to transform continuously into an ion Bernstein wave. In an ACT-1 hydrogen plasma (T/sub e/ approx. = 2.5 eV, T/sub i/ less than or equal to 2.0 eV), externally excited ion Bernstein waves have been observed for omega less than or equal to 2..cap omega../sub i/ as well as for omega less than or equal to 3..cap omega../sub i/. The finite ion-Larmor-radius mode transformation process resulting in strong ion Bernstein wave excitation has been experimentally verified. Detailed measurements of the wave dispersion relation and of the wave-packet trajectory show excellent agreement with theory. The dependence of the excited ion Bernstein wave on the antenna phasing, the plasma density, and on the neutral pressure (T/sub i/) is also investigated