Nonlinear wave modulation in a cylindrical plasma

The nonlinear propagation of plasma waves along a bounded plasma cylinder is considered. Exact surface and volume wave structures in the radial and azimuthal directions are included. It is shown that in the small-amplitude limit, mode-mode interactions are described by equations of the Mathieu type, and the space-time evolution of axially propagating waves is governed by a nonlinear Schrodinger equation.