Relativistic Quantum Response of a Strongly Magnetised Plasma. II. Ultrarelativistic Pair Plasma

Abstract

Approximate analytic expressions are derived for the linear response 4-tensor of a strongly magnetised, ultrarelativistic thermal pair plasma. The response is obtained in terms of relativistic plasma dispersion functions known as Dnestrovskii functions. These functions allow for a relatively simple study of wave properties of the pair plasma without requiring complicated numerical schemes. The results obtained are valid in general for frequencies below the electron cyclotron frequency. It is believed that the results could be of importance in some models of radio pulsars and gamma-ray bursters.