The interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter has always been a fascinating subject of study. As matter in the universe is mostly in the plasma state, the study of electromagnetic waves in plasmas is of importance to astrophysics, space physics and ionospheric physics. The physics of electromagnetic wave interacting with electron beams and plasmas also serves as a basis for coherent radiation generation such as free electron laser and gyrotron and advanced accelerators. This monograph aims at reviewing the physical processes of linear and nonlinear collective interactions of electromagnetic waves with electron beams and unmagnetized plasmas.

The interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter has always been a fascinating subject of study. As matter in the universe is mostly in the plasma state, the study of electromagnetic waves in plasmas is of importance to astrophysics, space physics and ionospheric physics. The physics of electromagnetic wave interacting with electron beams and plasmas also serves as a basis for coherent radiation generation such as free electron laser and gyrotron and advanced accelerators. This monograph aims at reviewing the physical processes of linear and nonlinear collective interactions of electromagnetic waves with electron beams and unmagnetized plasmas.

With the advent of laser and maser, the wave-plasma interaction emerged as a major rich field of research. To explore the possibility of laser driven fusion, laser-plasma interaction became a subject of worldwide research, revealing many novel nonlinear phenomena including generation and saturation of plasma instabilities, electron acceleration, and ion Coulomb explosion. The work presented in this thesis is related to intense laser-plasma and electron beam-plasma interaction. The development of intense short pulse laser and high current, high-energy electron beams has allowed exploration of new regimes of laser and beam plasma interaction. Enormous progress has been made in inertial confinement fusion, plasma heating, X-ray lasers, free electron laser and charged particle accelerators. In these applications parametric instabilities, self-focusing, self phase modulation and other non-linear phenomena are important. The present thesis deals with these phenomena. This work is relevant to laser-driven fusion, charged particle acceleration, and laboratory plasma heating.

Electromagnetic effects excited by intense relativistic electron beams in plasmas are investigated using a two-dimensional particle code. The simulations with dense beams show large magnetic fields excited by the Weibel instability as well as sizeable electromagnetic radiation over a significant range of frequencies. The possible relevance of beam plasma instabilities to the laser acceleration of particles is briefly discussed. 6 refs., 4 figs.

Physics of Intense Beams in Plasmas is a comprehensive description of the interaction between extremely intense particle beams and plasmas. The emphasis is on experimental beam-plasma physics, but the necessary theory is also explained-much of which is innovative and original. Central to the book is the discussion of beam instabilities, emphasizing their hydrodynamic nature.

The range of plasma conditions considered here is intentionally broad, systematic and relevant to such areas as plasma heating, plasma acceleration, laser-plasma interaction, and plasma confinement. This volume presents the principle concepts of plasma physics - with an account of the linear theory of electromagnetic wave interaction - and then covers nonlinear processes with extensive treatment of the pondermotive force. Related experimental work is thoroughly reviewed.