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Modulational instability in the beat-wave generation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

D. Pesme
Affiliation:
Centre de Physique Théorique, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
S. J. Karttunen
Affiliation:
Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O.B. 169, SF-00181 Helsinki, Finland
R. R. E. Salomaa
Affiliation:
Department of Technical Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, SF-02150 Espoo, Finland
G. Laval
Affiliation:
Centre de Physique Théorique, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
N. Silvestre
Affiliation:
Centre de Physique Théorique, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France

Abstract

The coupling of a large amplitude plasmon, generated by the beat-wave process, to ion acoustic waves may lead to modulational or decay instabilities, which are investigated here. A general dispersion relation obtainable from Zakharov equations predicts large growth rates (∼ωpi) for short wavelength modulations. To avoid these, extremely short pulse lengths are required in the beat-wave experiments. Due to the very long wavelength of the beat-plasmon, the decay instability is not likely below the ke V-temperatures.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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