Comparison of Zakharov simulation and open boundary Vlasov simulation of strong Langmuir turbulence

Both Zakharov equations and Vlasov equations are solved numerically to study the strong Langmuir turbulence developed in a plasma driven by an external pump field oscillating at the plasma frequency. A steady state turbulence in Vlasov simulations is reached by using open boundary conditions under which hot particles generated by strong caviton fields are replaced by initial cold Maxwellian particles when they cross the boundaries of simulation domain. A similar steady turbulent state in Zakharov simulations is easily achieved by implementing a phenomenological damping model and using periodic boundary conditions. Simulation results of these two different models are compared and investigated. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics