Kinetic theory of electromagnetic ion waves in relativistic plasmas
Abstract
Description
A kinetic theory for electromagnetic ion waves in a cold relativistic plasma is derived. The kinetic equation for the broadband electromagnetic ion waves is coupled to the slow density response via an acoustic equation driven by ponderomotive force like term linear in the electromagnetic field amplitude. The modulational instability growth rate is derived for an arbitrary spectrum of waves. The monochromatic and random phase cases are studied.
7 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physics of Plasmas
7 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physics of Plasmas