QUASI-PERIODIC AND CHAOTIC LANGMUIR CAVITONS

The evolution of 3D packets of Langmuir waves is analyzed. The packets are described by the Zakharov equation with several additional terms to simulate Landau excitation and damping. The damping stabilizes the packet at only a small amplitude and at length scales much larger than the Debye length. A caviton with a quasiperiodic or stochastic electr ic field confined in it is formed. The transition to the stochastic re gime with increasing excitation intensity occurs via period-doubling b ifurcations.