Time-dependent phase conjugation in plasmas: Numerical results and interpretation

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859630· OSTI ID:5651544

Goldman, M V ^[1]

---

1. Campus Box 391, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 (US)

The salient features of time-dependent phase conjugation and four-wave mixing in a plasma are summarized and developed numerically in an extension of the work of Goldman and Williams (Phys. Fluids B {bold 3}, 751 (1991)). It is shown that plasma nonuniformity can reduce the decay time of a conjugate wave responding to a delta-function signal without significant reduction in the maximum amplitude of the phase-conjugate wave. A phase-conjugating nonuniform plasma may therefore offer advantages over other media in the tracking or self-targeting of moving objects. The temporal approach to steady-state of an amplified phase-conjugate wave is found numerically for the case of resonant four-wave mixing driven by pumps of unequal intensity; the temporal response above threshold for absolute instability is also studied. Related absolute instabilities pumped by Langmuir waves are briefly described. Effects of nonuniformity are considered in connection with amplified phase conjugation.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5651544
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:8; ISSN PFBPE; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
ABSOLUTE INSTABILITIES
DELTA FUNCTION
ENERGY
FUNCTIONS
INSTABILITY
NONLINEAR OPTICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OPTICS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
SIGNALS
THRESHOLD ENERGY
TIME DEPENDENCE