Modulational instability of Langmuir waves in dense plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Physics of Fluids B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860579· OSTI ID:6108019

Vladimirov, S V ^[1]; Popel, S I ^[2]; Tsytovich, V N ^[3]

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1. Theoretische Physics 1, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum (Germany)
2. Institute for Dynamics of Geospheres, 117979 Moscow (Russian Federation)
3. Theory Department, General Physics Institut, 117942 Moscow (Russian Federation)

The modulational instability development of Langmuir waves is investigated in highly collisional plasmas where the characteristic frequency [Omega] of the modulated perturbations is much less than [nu][sub eff], the effective electron collision frequency. It is demonstrated that the modulational instability for the situation considered is mostly determined by collisional effects (differential Joule heating nonlinearity), in contrast to the well-known modulational instability in collisionless plasmas (where ponderomotive force nonlinearity dominates). Rates and thresholds of the instability are found in various limits. The modulational instability is most effective when the angles between a pump wave vector and wave vectors of the modulational perturbations are of order unity.

• OSTI ID: 6108019
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Vol. 5:11; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
JOULE HEATING
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
WAVE EQUATIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC HEATING
EQUATIONS
HEATING
INSTABILITY
ION WAVES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
RESISTANCE HEATING
700340* - Plasma Waves
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