Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
A model based on nonlinear mixing of dispersive waves is used to predict higher harmonic waves generated by weakly nonlinear electron plasma waves. The total harmonic wave is given by superposition of modes which lie at different points (with the same frequency) in the dispersion diagram. The model well explains the experimental results concerning the harmonic waves produced by externally excited electron plasma waves propagating along a collisionless plasma column.