Averaged force and flow induced by RF waves in inhomogeneous and dispersive plasmas

A general formula of the macroscopic averaged force induced by the rf waves in a dispersive nonuniform plasma is derived. The force is presented in terms of the spectra of waves and the mobility tensor of the plasma, where the kinetic processes can be also included. One mechanism to generate the net force is the absorption of the wave through wave-particle interactions. The other is the space-time inhomogeneities of the wave envelope and the background plasma. The nonmagnetohydrodynamic contribution to the force in the Vlasov plasma is calculated and compared to the MHD ponderomotive force. The macroscopic plasma flow induced by the rf force is also studied. (author)