On the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the breaking plasma waves

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electromagnetic waves interact with plasma waves during wave-breaking, analyzing reflection, absorption, and frequency shifts caused by nonlinear effects and caustic formation.

Contribution

It provides a systematic analysis of wave-breaking regimes and calculates EMW reflection coefficients in plasma with inhomogeneous flow.

Findings

Reflection coefficients are derived for EMW interacting with plasma caustics.

Wave-breaking leads to significant frequency shifts in electromagnetic waves.

Nonlinear plasma effects influence wave reflection and absorption.

Abstract

An electromagnetic wave (EMW) interacting with the moving singularity of the charged particle flux undergoes the reflection and absorption as well as frequency change due to Doppler effect and nonlinearity. The singularity corresponding to a caustic in plasma flow with inhomogeneous velocity can arise during the breaking of the finite amplitude Langmuir waves due to nonlinear effects. A systematic analysis of the wave-breaking regimes and caustics formation is presented and the EMW reflection coefficients are calculated.