Onset of chaotic wave dynamics near the critical point in a glow discharge: Theory and experiment

Conditions for the onset of irregular wave dynamics are derived from a theo retical description of ionization waves in a glow discharge by means of amp litude equations. It is shown that the Benjamin-Feir condition of the cubic Ginzburg-Landau equation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for l oss of stability of plane waves in a higher order amplitude equation. The o nset conditions are numerically evaluated in the case of a neon discharge. Experimental findings concerning the onset of chaotic wave dynamics near th e critical point agree very well with the theoretical predictions. This exa mple reveals physical relevance of higher order nonlinearities close to the critical point. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics, [DOI: 10.1063/1.13 32119].