Nonlinear interaction of waves in an active molecular plasma

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to investigate, by means of kinetic theory, the wave—wave couplings that may occur in a magnetized and partially ionized plasma medium containing neutrals (or ions) with inverted population levels. We study the interaction of three monochromatic waves which propagate parallel to the direction of a magnetic field in the medium. Transverse as well as longitudinal waves are considered. The present paper, which represents a generalization of previous contributions to the subject, offers several new interesting processes of interaction, which may be basic to the description of phenomena occurring in astrophysics. Furthermore, it is of interest in connexion with laboratory plasma and laser experiments.