Coffey Limit in Magnetized Plasmas

ABSTRACT Using a non‐relativistic warm fluid model, the wave‐breaking limit of upper‐hybrid waves (UHWs) in magnetized plasmas is derived. This limit—termed “Coffey limit” in magnetized plasmas—is found to decrease with the increase of an ambient magnetic field. A nonlinear dispersion relation for UHWs is also derived, showing its considerable dependency on wave amplitude. These results will be of relevance to laboratory applications of wave‐breaking involving magnetic fields.