Reduced description of strong Langmuir turbulence from kinetic theory

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871119· OSTI ID:6710124

DuBois, D F ^[1]; Russell, D ^[2]; Rose, H A ^[1]

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1. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
2. Lodestar Research Corporation, 2400 Central Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80301 (United States)

A reduced description of strong Langmuir turbulence is derived from the Vlasov--Poisson equations by using an oscillation center transformation that decomposes the distribution function into envelope components which vary slowly on the plasma frequency time scale. The familiar high-frequency response is identified in the context of a basic ordering of small quantities. A generalization of the ion acoustic wave equation to the regime of equal electron and ion temperatures which is valid in this ordering is derived using a three-pole approximant for the collisionless ion susceptibility. The resulting extended Zakharov model is solved numerically in two dimensions for parameters relevant to radio-frequency heating of the ionosphere, producing energy and power spectra of fluctuations that are qualitatively similar to experimental observations. A new [ital local] quasilinear equation for the spatial and temporal evolution of the slowly varying part of the oscillation center distribution function is proposed.

• OSTI ID: 6710124
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700330 -- Plasma Kinetics
Transport
& Impurities-- (1992-)
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
DAMPING
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
EQUATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
KINETIC EQUATIONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA FLUID EQUATIONS
PLASMA WAVES
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS