Wake field generation and nonlinear evolution in a magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates how circularly polarized electromagnetic waves generate wake fields in a strongly magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma, revealing ion presence as crucial for wake field generation and its effects on pulse dynamics.

Contribution

It derives coupled equations describing wake field generation and explores the nonlinear evolution of electromagnetic pulses in a magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma.

Findings

Wake fields depend on ion presence.

Electromagnetic pulses experience de-acceleration.

Frequency down conversion occurs due to wake fields.

Abstract

The nonlinear propagation of a circularly polarized electromagnetic (CPEM) wave in a strongly magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma is investigated. Two coupled equations describing the interaction between a high-frequency CPEM wave and the low-frequency electrostatic wake field are derived. It is found that the generation of the wake fields depends on the presence of the ion species. The wake field generation in turn leads to de-acceleration and frequency down conversion of the electromagnetic pulse.