NONLINEAR QUASIOPTICS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN A PLASMA IN A CONSTANT MAGNETIC FIELD.

A general analysis is presented for the propagation of quasi-optical beams of electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma. A nonlinear parabolic equation is derived for the complex amplitude of a steady-state wave beam. This equation is applicable for the propagation of the beam at an arbitrary angle from the magnetic field (except for certain singular directions). Equations incorporating transport effects are given for low-frequency perturbations of the density and magnetic field which are caused by the ponderomotive force. These equations are used to analyze the self-effects of wave beams in the particular cases in which the wave packets are propagating longitudinally and transversely with respect to the magnetic field. The self-effects are also analyzed for beams of whistlers and for beams of electromagnetic waves in a strongly magnetized plasma.