On the breaking of a plasma wave in a thermal plasma: I. The structure of the density singularity
Abstract
The structure of the singularity that is formed in a relativistically large amplitude plasma wave close to the wavebreaking limit is found by using a simple waterbag electron distribution function. The electron density distribution in the breaking wave has a typical "peakon" form. The maximum value of the electric field in a thermal breaking plasma is obtained and compared to the cold plasma limit. The results of computer simulations for different initial electron distribution functions are in agreement with the theoretical conclusions.
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