Breakdown of the ponderomotive approximation as an acceleration mechanism in wave-particle nonlinear dynamics
Abstract
In the present analysis, we study the dynamics of charged particles submitted to the action of slowly modulated electromagnetic carrier waves. While the velocity of the particles remains smaller than the carrier's phase-velocity, their dynamics is well described by a refined ponderomotive approach. The ponderomotive approach has its own validity limits well established, beyond which particles are resonantly trapped by the carrier waves. We show that under adequate conditions, the trapping mechanism places particles at an optimal relative phase with respect to the carrier for maximum acceleration. In addition to the analytical approach involved in the ponderomotive description, we use numerical simulations to validate the corresponding dynamics as well as to explore various features of the resonant trapping and acceleration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4995524
Entities
People
- E. Peter
- F. B. Rizzato
- G. I. de Oliveira
- S. Marini
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul