Plasma Frequency Shift Due to a Slowly Rotating Compact Star

Abstract

We investigate the effects of a slowly rotating compact gravitational source on electron oscillations in a homogeneous electrically neutral plasma in the absence of an external electric or magnetic field. Neglecting the random thermal motion of the electrons we assume the gravitoelectromagnetic approximation to the general theory of relativity for the gravitational field. It is shown that there is a shift in the plasma frequency and hence in the dielectric constant of the plasma due to the gravitomagnetic force. We also give estimates for the difference in the frequency of radially transmitted electromagnetic signals for typical compact star candidates.