Plasma-wave generation in the beat-wave accelerator

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.460· OSTI ID:5594355

Noble, R J

We analytically study the generation of longitudinal plasma waves in an underdense plasma by two electromagnetic waves with frequency difference approximately equal to the plasma frequency, as envisioned in the plasma beat-wave accelerator concept of Tajima and Dawson (Phys. Rev. Lett. 43, 267 (1979)). The relativistic electron fluid equations describing driven electron oscillations with phase velocities near the speed of light in a cold, collisionless plasma are reduced to a single, approximate ordinary differential equation of a parametrically excited nonlinear oscillator. We give amplitude-phase equations describing the asymptotic solutions to this equation valid for plasma-wave amplitudes below wave breaking. We numerically compare the behavior of the asymptotic equations with that of the original equation and with particle-simulation results.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 5594355
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 32:1; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
AMPLITUDES
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
COLD PLASMA
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LANGMUIR FREQUENCY
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
PRODUCTION MECHANISMS
RADIATIONS
RESONANCE