Vlasov simulations of strongly nonlinear oscillations in a one-dimensional electron-ions plasma

The problem of the microscopic plasma response to the excitation of large amplitude electrostatic perturbations in a two-component plasma is studied by means of the numerical integration of the Vlasov-Maxwell system. The decaying of an initial electron density perturbation as well as the plasma response to an externally applied oscillating electric field are considered for times much longer than the typical ion-plasma times. The interconnections between the microscopic particle dynamics and the macroscopic plasma density and temperature evolutions are investigated. [S1063-651X(98)02811-6].