Excitation of electromagnetic wake fields in a magnetized plasma

Abstract

We consider propagation of short electromagnetic pulses in a magnetized plasma. A self-consistent system of equations describing wake-field generation in the weakly nonlinear limit is derived. Due to the external magnetic field, the generated wake field becomes partially electromagnetic. The equations are applicable for arbitrary directions of propagation as compared to the external magnetic field. The conservation laws for the system are discussed in detail. The energy decrease rate and the frequency decrease rate of the short pulse are determined.