Evolution of a Langmuir Wave in a Weakly Inhomogeneous Plasma with a Positive Concentration Gradient

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/1.2149074· OSTI ID:20702649

Matveev, A I ^[1]

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1. Taganrog State University of Radio Engineering, Taganrog, 347928 (Russian Federation)

Spatial evolution of a Langmuir wave excited by external sources in a weakly inhomogeneous electron plasma without external sources is considered for a small positive gradient of the plasma concentration in the direction of propagation of the wave. At the first state of the evolution, the dispersion of the wave is close to linear. When the phase velocity is doubled, the second stage of the evolution begins. The wave loses its individuality and becomes a hybrid of two waves. Its profile acquires the shape of an alternating sequence of fragments of these waves. The wave dispersion is determined by the dispersion of each fragment. In the course of evolution, the spacing between the equilibrium values of the wave fragments increases; as a result, the wave decays into two waves, which are also loaded by trapped electrons. Prior to decay, the humps of the wave become steeper; as a result, at the instant of the decay, the wave is transformed into a sequence of solitons with different polarities.

• OSTI ID: 20702649
• Journal Information: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 101; ISSN JTPHES; ISSN 1063-7761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EQUILIBRIUM
EVOLUTION
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
PHASE VELOCITY
SOLITONS
TRAPPED ELECTRONS
WAVE PROPAGATION