GENERALIZED ZAKHAROV EQUATIONS FOR A STREAMING OR DRIFTING PLASMA

Generalized Zakharov equations describing the coupled evolution of the high-frequency electric field and the low-frequency density and magne tic field perturbations are derived for a streaming of drifting plasma . The derivation follows the operator method developed by Heuraux et a l 1993 in the framework of the two-fluid plasma model and the standard two-time-scale analysis. The expression of the ponderomotive force fo r a drifting plasma is modified in accordance. It is shown that for on e-dimensional perturbations (along the magnetic field) the low-frequen cy equations agree with previous experimental results. The importance of the drift terms in these equations is discussed in a few simple cas es.