Satellite Generation of Electron Plasma Waves form Low Frequency Oscillations in Plasmas

Abstract

Experiments demonstrating that the satellite generation of a stable electrostatic wave in the presence of an electron density oscillation in a bounded plasma and that the satellite generation of the unstable plasma wave in a modulated electron beam-plasma system are described. The spatially periodic energy transfer among the satellite modes and the primary mode is observed, which results in an enhanced damping of the stable primary mode in the former case and a decrease in a growth rate of the unstable primary mode in the latter. These results are compared with the theoretical prediction derived by expanding the wave number in terms of fluctuating plasma parameters as well as by using the coupled mode equations.