Plasma Oscillations in an External Electric Field

Abstract

The fluctuation longitudinal electric field, E_k, is studied for a two component plasma immersed in a uniform, external electric field E₀. Since the time dependence of the space‐averaged part of the distribution functions precludes the usual Laplace transform approach, computational techniques are developed to solve the integral equation for E_k directly in the time domain. Solutions are given for the case where E₀ is large compared to the critical field for runaway and compared with the familiar constant‐drift solutions. Growth in the vicinity of resonance (v_drift ≈ ω_p/k) is observed, followed by Landau damping at longer times.