Initial value problem for plasma oscillations

The solution of the initial value problem for the linearized one-dimensional electron Vlasov--Poisson equations in a field-free homogeneous equilibrium is examined for small and for large ratios κ of Debye length and wavelength, assuming initial perturbing distribution functions varying on the same velocity scale as the equilibrium. Previously known approximations of the initial evolution (which, unlike the time-asymptotic one, does not depend on analyticity assumptions) are extended to longer times, and to arbitrary stable or unstable equilibria: In the quasifluid regime (small κ), the electric field, within an additive error O(κ2), and independently of the initial data, performs an oscillation near the plasma frequency that corresponds to an eigenmode if it is unstable or marginal, but to an approximate eigenmode arising from the continuous spectrum otherwise. If other unstable or marginal modes are present, these influence only the time-asymptotic behavior because their amplitudes are O(κ2) initially. In the ballistic regime (large κ), there are no instabilities and the perturbing density, now within an error O(κ-2), is the Fourier transform of the initial perturbing distribution function, thus following an arbitrary decay law that is independent of the equilibrium. The errors are shown to be time-independent, implying that either approximation is relevant at least until the perturbing density has essentially damped out. Hence the dominating damping mechanism (in the stable case) is Landau damping if κ much-lt 1, but ballistic particle mixing if κ much-gt 1