Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
An infinite, inhomogeneous electron plasma driven by a spatially uniform oscillating electric field is investigated. The multi-time perturbation method is used to analyze possible parametric excitations of transverse waves and to evaluate their growth rates. It is shown that there exist subharmonic excitations of: (1) a pair of transverse waves in an unmagnetized plasma and (2) a pair of one right and one left circularly polarized wave in a magnetoplasma. Additionally, parametric excitation of two right or two left circularly polarized waves with different frequencies can exist in a magnetoplasma. The subharmonic excitations are impossible whenever the density gradient and the applied electric field are perpendicular. However, parametric excitation is possible with all configurations.