Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
Wave-wave coupling is investigated for spatially growing waves in a cold beam-cold plasma system. Numerical solutions of the wave coupling equations are obtained for various combinations of three waves as well as several interacting triplets of waves that are of experimental interest. It is found that most three wave interactions in this system are explosive if they involve the most unstable mode. The results are compared, where applicable, with analytic criteria for the unboundedness of the solutions.