Dynamics of intense Langmuir waves in current-carrying plasmas

Basic equations including the ponderomotive effects of Langmuir waves in a current-carrying plasma are presented. In such a system the dynamics of an initially monochromatic plasma wave is investigated both analytically and numerically. Various regimes of developed modified decay and modulational instabilities of the wave are modelled by using a macroparticle numerical code. In this way the cooperative nature of both ponderomotive and drift effects supporting plasma heating is demonstrated. The underlying physical processes are discussed and a relation to the solar flare theory is suggested. (author). 6 figs., 1 tab., 15 refs