Nonlinear electromagnetic waves in a multicomponent plasma

A study of nonlinear electromagnetic waves in a general multicomponent plas ma is undertaken. Starting from an exact solution of Maxwell's equations an d the relativistic equation of motion for the plasma species, a nonlinear d ispersion relation is derived for circularly polarised electromagnetic wave s that propagate along the magnetic field. New nonlinear waves are produced by finite amplitude effects and the relativistic nature of the particles' motion. To illustrate the character of these waves some particular examples of two and three species plasmas are discussed in detail.