On the conical refraction of hydromagnetic waves in plasma with anisotropic thermal pressure: general consideration

Abstract

A phenomenon analogous to the conical refraction well-known in the crystalooptics and crystaloacoustics is considered for the magnetohydrodynamical waves in a collisionless plasma with anisotropic thermal pressure. Imposing the most general (generalization of Tsiklauri, 1996, Phys. Plasmas, 3, 800) condition for the existence of the phenomenon, angle of the conical refraction is calculated which appeared to be dependent on the ratio of the Alfven velocity and sound speed measured in the perpendicular direction in respect to the external magnetic field. Feasible ways of experimental demonstration of the phenomenon are discussed and a novelty brought by the general consideration is outlined.