LAUSR

Abstract Parametric coupling between a large amplitude X-mode laser, propagating perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field B s z ˆ , through a plasma embedded with clusters with short-wavelength electron Bernstein wave and a lower hybrid wave is investigated. The coupling arises through the ponderomotive force by the high frequency waves and the low frequency density perturbation beating with the oscillatory velocity due to laser. Finite Larmor radius effects on plasma electrons are included while those on free electrons inside the clusters are neglected. The clusters response to nonlinear coupling is enhanced due to the Plasmon resonance. The cluster Plasmon resonance strongly modifies the nonlinear coupling between modes. For typical parameters, k 1 ⊥ 2 v t h 2 / ( 2 ω c 2 ) = 1 , n c ( 4 π / 3 ) r c 3 = 0.001 , e A 0 / ( m ω 0 c ) = 0.1 , the growth rate turns out to be maximum when ω / ω L H = 1.4 and decreases sharply with ω / ω L H .