Magnetic electron drift waves in electron magnetohydrodynamic plasmas

The dynamics of nonuniform, magnetized, cold electron plasma in a stationary charge neutral ion background is considered. In the high frequency limit, electromagnetic modification of electron plasma oscillation is obtained in homogeneous plasma, whereas in inhomogeneous plasma in the low frequency regime a driftlike mode is found. Nonlinear evolution of this mode is derived to describe the two-dimensional (2D) dynamics. The equation has a close resemblance to 2D electrostatic collisionless drift wave equation thereby called as "magnetic electron drift" wave. In addition to the usual small amplitude dispersive modes the stationary state nonlinear vortexlike solutions are also discussed. The magnetic electron drift wave in the electron magnetohydrodynamic regime can find applications in laboratory as well as in space plasmas. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.