Generation of a d.c. field by nonlinear electromagnetic waves in relativistic plasmas |
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Authors: | G S Lakhina B Buti |
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Institution: | (1) Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Colaba, Bombay, India;(2) Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, India |
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Abstract: | A finite amplitude linearly polarized electromagnetic wave propagating in a relativistic plasma, is found to generate the longitudinal d.c. as well as the oscillating electric field at the second harmonic. In a plasma consisting of only electrons and positrons, these fields cannot be generated.The evolution of the electromagnetic waves is governed by the non-linear Schrödinger equation which shows that the electromagnetic solitons are always possible in ultra-relativistic plasmas (electron-ion or electron-positron) but in a plasma with relativistic electrons and nonrelativistic ions, these solitons exist only if 1 (KT
e/meC2)<(2m
i/15me);m
e andm
i being the electron and ion mass andT
e the electron temperature. Both the d.c. electric field and the solitons provide a nonlinear mechanism for anomalous acceleration of the particles. This model has direct relevance to some plasma processes occurring in pulsars. |
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Keywords: | |
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