This article is cited in 14 papers

PLASMA, GASES

Nonlinear evolution of a relativistically strong electromagnetic wave in the self-created electron–positron plasma

S. S. Bulanov^a, A. M. Fedotov^b, F. Pegoraro<sup>c

a</sup> Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, 117218 Moscow, Russia
^b Moscow State Engineering Physics Institute, 115409 Moscow, Russia
^c Department of Physics, University of Pisa and INFM, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The nonlinear interaction between the electron–positron pairs produced by an electromagnetic wave in plasma and the wave leads to damping of the wave, frequency upshift, change of polarization and particle acceleration. The case of a circularly polarized wave is investigated in the framework of the relativistic Vlasov equation with a source term based on the Schwinger formula for the pair creation rate.

PACS: 12.20.Fv, 13.40.-f, 52.20.-j, 52.27.-h, 52.35.Mw

Received: 11.11.2004

Language: English

 English version: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters, 2004, 80:12, 734–738

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