Multiple harmonic plasma emission

Abstract

A generalized weak turbulence theory for electromagnetic emission at multiple harmonics of the plasma frequency is developed. In the literature, the electromagnetic emission at the plasma frequency and/or its second harmonic has been intensively studied. However, the emission at harmonics higher than the second harmonic is scarcely discussed. In the present paper, the higher harmonic plasma emission is explained by taking the interactions between the transverse mode and electrostatic nonlinear eigenmodes into consideration. The present analysis incorporates electrostatic nonlinear harmonic Langmuir waves into the fully electromagnetic weak turbulence formalism recently reformulated on the basis of the statistical mechanical Klimontovich approach. The wave kinetic equations for the transverse electromagnetic and Langmuir waves interacting with the harmonic Langmuir waves are derived, on the basis of which the emission of electromagnetic waves near multiple harmonics of the plasma frequency is qualitatively discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.