The Theory of Inverse Compton Scattering in a Cold Plasma
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Goldstein, Melvyn L., and Allen M. Lenchek. “The Theory of Inverse Compton Scattering in a Cold Plasma.” The Astrophysical Journal 163 (February 1, 1971): 515. https://doi.org/10.1086/150795.
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Abstract
We have derived a theory for inverse Compton scattering in a cold collisionless plasma. In the absence of a magnetic field, the general shape of the scattered-photon spectrum is qualitatively similar to the vacuum spectrum The average rate of electron-energy loss is three-quarters of the vacuum value if the frequency of the incident photons is close to the plasma frequency In order for the plasma to have a large effect on the scattered-photon spectrum, the incident radiation must propagate below the plasma frequency, which is possible if a magnetic field is present As an example, we use gyrosynchrotron photons propagating in the ordinary mode below the plasma frequency as the source of incident photons When these photons are scattered, the spectrum is greatly suppressed compared with the vacuum results The total scattering cross-section is also sharply decreased in a magnetoactive plasma