Wave Energy Distribution: Transverse vs Electron Plasma Waves

This lecture delves into the study of non-linear resonant coupling of three waves, focusing on the interaction between transverse electromagnetic waves and electron plasma waves. The instructor explains the derivation of coupled equations for the amplitudes of these waves, emphasizing the importance of frequency and wave number matching conditions. The lecture covers the concept of wave energy in a continuous dispersive media, exploring the contributions from electromagnetic fields and kinetic energy from the medium. Through quantum mechanical interpretations, the distribution of energy from incident light waves to scattered light and electron plasma waves is analyzed. The instructor also discusses the implications of wave energy distribution in the context of stimulated Raman scattering and other plasma instabilities.

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PHYS-736: Plasma instabilities

To complete the theoretical knowledge acquired before the graduate studies.

Harmonic oscillator

In classical mechanics, a harmonic oscillator is a system that, when displaced from its equilibrium position, experiences a restoring force F proportional to the displacement x: where k is a positive constant. If F is the only force acting on the system, the system is called a simple harmonic oscillator, and it undergoes simple harmonic motion: sinusoidal oscillations about the equilibrium point, with a constant amplitude and a constant frequency (which does not depend on the amplitude).

Dispersion (optics)

In optics and in wave propagation in general, dispersion is the phenomenon in which the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency; sometimes the term chromatic dispersion is used for specificity to optics in particular. A medium having this common property may be termed a dispersive medium (plural dispersive media). Although the term is used in the field of optics to describe light and other electromagnetic waves, dispersion in the same sense can apply to any sort of wave motion such as acoustic dispersion in the case of sound and seismic waves, and in gravity waves (ocean waves).

Mechanical wave

In physics, a mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium. While waves can move over long distances, the movement of the medium of transmission—the material—is limited. Therefore, the oscillating material does not move far from its initial equilibrium position. Mechanical waves can be produced only in media which possess elasticity and inertia. There are three types of mechanical waves: transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves.

Plasma oscillation

Plasma oscillations, also known as Langmuir waves (after Irving Langmuir), are rapid oscillations of the electron density in conducting media such as plasmas or metals in the ultraviolet region. The oscillations can be described as an instability in the dielectric function of a free electron gas. The frequency depends only weakly on the wavelength of the oscillation. The quasiparticle resulting from the quantization of these oscillations is the plasmon. Langmuir waves were discovered by American physicists Irving Langmuir and Lewi Tonks in the 1920s.

Transverse wave

In physics, a transverse wave is a wave whose oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of the wave's advance. This is in contrast to a longitudinal wave which travels in the direction of its oscillations. Water waves are an example of transverse wave. A simple example is given by the waves that can be created on a horizontal length of string by anchoring one end and moving the other end up and down. Another example is the waves that are created on the membrane of a drum.

Plasma Instabilities: Resonant Three Wave Interaction PHYS-736: Plasma instabilities

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Plasma Instabilities: Non-Linear Effects PHYS-736: Plasma instabilities

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Explores non-linear effects in plasmas, focusing on weakly coupled plasmas, Maxwell's equations, collisional effects, and parametric instabilities.

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