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Nonlinear wave interactions in two-electron-temperature plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

A. Hanssen
Affiliation:
Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Boks 1029 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
H. L. Pécseli
Affiliation:
Institute of Physics, University of Oslo, Boks 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
L. Stenflo
Affiliation:
Department of Plasma Physics, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
J. Trulsen
Affiliation:
Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Boks 1029 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

Dynamical equations are derived for the evolution of weakly nonlinear electron plasma waves when the electron distributions are characterized by more than one temperature component. The presence of electron-acoustic modes in multi- temperature plasmas opens a new decay channel. By considering an explicit example, it is demonstrated that these distributions imply significant modifications of the standard models for the decay spectrum of electron plasma waves. In particular, long-wavelength Langmuir waves can decay to shorter wavelengths. The results can have implications for ionospheric heating experiments.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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