Two-dimensional relativistic simulations of resonance absorption

Abstract

Resonant absorption has been simulated for radiation of energy density E20/4πnT ranging from much less than to somewhat greater than unity. Characteristic features of the absorption process are an absorption efficiency of approximately 50%, generation of suprathermal particles, and strong modification of the density profile in the vicinity of the critical density. The latter effect, the appearance of a finite density variation over the distance of a few Debye lengths, is forced by strong gradients in the plasma wave intensity and electron temperature. Such a density discontinuity greatly enhances the range of incidence angles for which resonance absorption is effective and decreases the effects of the oscillating two-stream and ion-acoustic decay instabilities.